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raewritez · 3 years

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promise

based on this request: hiiii can i request a zuko x earthbender!reader where they get along rlly well when he comes to the air temple and they slowly develop feelings and confess before the final battle? tyyyy ❤️

Silent tears streamed down your face as Katara held Aang tightly in her arms. You all sat upon Appa, the cool night breeze whipping your hair around as you grasped the sides of the saddle. Katara worked her magic on the lighting wound Azula had marked Aang with minutes ago while you and Sokka took Appa’s reins. You were so scared. You all were. Through her sobs, Katara had managed to explain what had just gone down; the Dai Li, Zuko siding with his sister, and Azula shooting Aang with lightning. You had never hated the Fire Nation Prince more than you did now, his actions filling you to the brim with loathing and animosity. You looked back at Katara’s tear-streaked face, Aang’s head pressed snugly into her neck. He’ll be ok, you assured yourself. He always is.

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“Hello, Zuko here.”

You stared in disbelief at the figure in front of you, his hair falling over his face and his arm raised in an awkward hello.

“I heard you guys flying around down there, so, I just thought I'd wait for you here.”

If you weren't surprised before, you definitely were when Appa suddenly growled and opted to run his giant tongue along Zuko’s face. He explained why he was there, insisting he could teach Aang fire bending and that “he had changed”. You rolled your eyes at that, you’d heard that one before.

After disclosing that he had sent a literal assassin after all of you, he was sent away, mainly by Katara who possessed no shortage of threats that you had no doubt she would carry through with. Really, who did he think he was?! He had spent months chasing you, there was no way you could trust him. Was there?

------------------------

A couple weeks had passed from the whole Combustion Man incident, and, much to you and Katara’s annoyance, Zuko had been accepted into the group. You spent the first couple days sending him piercing glares and cold shoulders, but as time passed you reluctantly found yourself warming up to him. He wasn’t at all like you had pegged him as, in fact he was probably the biggest dork you knew, and with Sokka as one of your best friends that was saying something. Zuko had embarked on a couple “life changing field trips”, as Toph put it, and in his most recent escapade he and Katara had confronted her mother’s killer. Now, you found yourself standing at the shores of Ember Island, and while you could tell that the place held some painful memories for Zuko, you couldn’t help but enjoy the scenery.

“Y/n” you heard.

You turned around to see Zuko wading out to your spot amongst the shallow waves.

“What are you doing?” He chuckled with a slight smile on his face, one that only you could seem to coax out of him.

“Just enjoying the sunset,” You shrugged. “It’s nice to take a break, Toph has been working me to the ground.” Zuko snickered at that, he had seen how Toph acted as your teacher: yelling and ordering and enjoying her authority much too much for it to be anything less than irritating for you. Although you were a skilled earth bender, Toph was attempting to teach you Metalbending, and all you had managed to do was flip a coin. You loved her dearly, but that girl was pulling at your last nerve.

Zuko placed himself next to you, gazing fondly at your profile before switching his attention to the sky streaked with oranges and reds. “Yeah,” he said. “It’s pretty.”

You nodded you head before turning slightly to look at him. He looked more relaxed than he had in days, reminding you of the whispered conversations you had shared by the firelight when everyone else was asleep, his face free of the worry lines and scowl that deepened over the course of the day. You silently admitted to yourself that he was beautiful, his raven locks sweeping across his forehead and the crimson skin of his scar blending in with the ochre gloaming. His expression suddenly changed, his eyebrows furrowing and his mouth pressed into a thin line.

“Aang isn’t taking this seriously,” he sighed, running a hand through his hair. “He wants to spend his time goofing off when there’s a war, when he has to fight my father in a few days!”

He sounded exasperated, and you couldn’t blame him. He had taken another load to his shoulders, the stress of the upcoming fight against the Fire Lord weighing heavily on him.

“Hey,” you said softly, nudging his side you your arm. “It’s going to be fine. Aang’s just a kid, but he has the biggest and bravest heart of anyone I know. He’s an amazing fire bender now! He’ll be ready.” Zuko didn’t look convinced, but he sighed and slumped his head. “You’re probably right.” He turned to you and nudged his head in the crook of your neck, a familiar position for the two of you for when he would wake up from night terrors under the light of the moon. He would silently crawl over to your sleeping bag and lay down near, a respectable amount of space between the two of you, only for you to find yourselves clinging to each other by morning.

You had told yourself he was just a friend, that he was the prince of the Fire Nation and you were only an Earth Kingdom peasant. But in moments like these, when he bared the most vulnerable side of himself to you, it was hard to believe that. You played with the hair at the nape of his neck, his arms tenderly wrapped around your waist.

“Come on,” you spoke, lifting his head with your hand. “Let’s go back to the others. I heard Katara is making soup again.”

He perked up at that.

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It had all happened so fast: Aang went missing, you got help from a cool lady with a shirshu, and you met up with the Order of the White Lotus. You and your friends sat around a campfire making small talk, when you noticed Zuko pacing frantically in front of the entrance to a tent. You stood up and walked over to him, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder to stop him.

“Are you ok?” you asked softly.

“No, I'm not okay” he replied. “My uncle hates me, I know it. He loved and supported me in every way he could, and I still turned against him. How can I even face him?”

“Zuko, he loves you. And you’re sorry for what you did, right?” “More sorry than I've been about anything in my entire life.”

“Then he’ll forgive you,” you assured him. “He will.”

He nodded softly, building up his confidence. He gazed into your eyes and opened his mouth as to say something, “Y/n, I...” he trailed off and you looked at him curiously as a blush rose to his face. “I...um...thank you.” He rose to his feet and pushed the curtains apart, sparing you once last glance.

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You squirmed around in your sleeping bag, the confines of sleep seeming unbearable. Iroh had informed you all that you needed to split up, for each person to seek out their destiny. Your destiny lay with Sokka, Suki, and Toph; the four of you would depart to the skies at dawn to take down the Fire Nation airfleet. Zuko and Katara would fly to the palace, where Zuko would take down Azula to become Fire Lord. Fire Lord. Your Zuko.

You shut your eyes tightly, seeking sanctuary from the thoughts raging in your head. You snuggled deeper into your sleeping bag, only for your eyes to snap open when you felt a hand softly shaking you. You glanced up to see Zuko’s face, his expression laced with urgency and something else you couldn’t place.

“I need to talk to you, Y/n” he breathed out.

You nodded and followed him as he lead you away from your sleeping friends. Once you had reached a small clearing, he turned to you and opened his mouth to speak.

“Y/n,” he breathed your name out like a prayer. “I-”

You furrowed your brows. “Zuko?” you questioned, confused about his behavior. He examined your face with such intensity that you were tempted to turn away but his eyes, warm and amber as ever, locked you in place.

His mouth opened and closed like a fish, gaping at you in a way you were unfamiliar with.

“Zuko, what’s-” you were cut off as a warm pair of lips pressed against your own. His hands tangled desperately into your hair, and after recovering from your initial shock you quickly snaked your arms around his neck. He kissed you like a starving man, clinging to you like you were the only thing keeping him from floating away.

You reciprocated eagerly, his soft tresses gliding through your fingers as his lips molded with yours. You cupped his face so tenderly that it evoked a whimper from the back of his throat. Eventually you broke apart, thirsting for air, as he nuzzled his face farther into your palm. You glanced up at him, unsure for a moment before shy, soft smiles broke out across both your lips. He leaned forward once again and pressed a delicate kiss against you lips, conveying all the affection and adoration he held for you.

Katara found you the next morning, hand intertwined and relaxed expressions upon both your profiles. She hated to disturb the peace, but there were Fire Lords to make, destinies to actualize.

Later, between whispered goodbyes and tear-stained hugs, Zuko approached you again. He pressed his lips against your hair and leaned his forehead against yours. In his eyes gleamed a silent vow, a promise to return. As he and Katara rose up on Appa and you and your closest friends headed off to your futures, you knew it would be kept.

#zuko x reader #zuko x y/n #zuko x you #sokka x reader #avatar the last airbender #prince zuko #atla #legend of korra #aang x reader #the gaang #atla x y/n #atla x reader #avatar x reader #zuko #fire lord zuko #korra x reader #zukka #toph x reader #suki

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dawnsnail · 3 years

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[ID: Zuko and Katara are in Appa’s saddle before a glistening starry night sky. Katara is depicted on the left, in her red Fire Nation outfit, an off-shoulder crop top and long, flowing skirt, wearing gold cuffs on her biceps and wrists, as well as her mother’s necklace. Her hair is long, to about her mid-back, and is dark brown. Her facial expression is caring and gentle, directed towards Zuko, who lies in front of her, positioned on the right in a relaxed pose, propped up by a pillow. He is wearing dark Fire Nation robes, his scar visible to us even through his shaggy hair. His face in profile depicts a hopeful smile as he makes eye contact with Katara. Their hands meet in the center of the image, their palms touching in a gesture of understanding.]

Going, Going, Gone

Link to fic on AO3

After a failed battle at the Fire Nation Capital, Katara wakes up in a prison cell with no recollection of how she got there and a strange poem echoing through her mind. When she learns that she is the last one of her group of friends alive, she quickly realizes that her lost memories are the key to her survival. She must navigate her unimaginable grief and survival under a demanding Fire Lord Ozai, while trying to decipher the enigma that is Prince Zuko. Can she solve the mystery of her missing memory and escape?

I’m so excited to share the first of my art pieces for the @zkbigbang this year! Without spoiling too much, the fanfic this piece is based on has some beautiful and poignant themes, with the Zutara ship at the center of it. If you love Zutara and would like to consume some truly awesome fan works today, I highly recommend you check out the project!

#zutara #zutarian #zkbigbang #zk big bang #zutara big bang #zuko #katara #fanart #avatar #atla

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invnciblesummer · 3 years

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Zutara Textposts: Part 4

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10

(Image ID:

Image 1: This is a screenshot from "Sozin's Comet, Part 3: Into The Inferno." We see a side profile of Zuko and Katara standing side-by-side in an outside area in the Fire Nation palace with a red sky in the background. Their heads are both tilted up, and they both have strong, determined expressions. Katara’s mouth is open to say something. A text box reads, "One of my favorite tropes is the power couple. Just. Two people who are equally talented and hardworking and worthy of respect at different things, and then you add them TOGETHER? Magical."

Image 2: This is a screenshot from "Sozin's Comet, Part 3: Into The Inferno." Zuko is intercepting lightning headed in the direction of Katara. His hand is outstretched to redirect the lightning away from her, and his expression is scared and desperate. His eyes are wide open, and he has the word "No!" formed on his lips. A text box reads, "is ‘no’ an emotion because i feel it."

Image 3: This is a screenshot from "Sozin's Comet, Part 1: The Phoenix King." Katara and Zuko stand side-by-side next to each other in the Ember Island beach house. Zuko’s hand is on Katara’s shoulder, and Katara is looking up at him while he is speaking and looking at a point in the distance off-camera. A text box reads, "do I like him or is he just tall."

Image 4: This is a screenshot from "The Crossroads of Destiny." We see a zoom-in on Zuko’s face in the crystal catacombs. His eyes are closed in consent to the touch of Katara’s fingers on his scar, and her thumb on his lips. A text box reads, "believe! at the catacomb."

Image 5: This is a screenshot from "The Southern Raiders." Katara and Zuko are riding on Appa over the ocean during sunrise. Zuko watches Katara’s frame against the sun. A text box reads, "Someone on TikTok said that bitches with anxiety love the enemies to lovers trope because the idea of having someone see all of our negative traits first and then still fall in love with us is really comforting since we worry that if someone sees our negative traits after they fall in love, they'll leave us. It's me, I'm bitches."

Image 6: This is a screenshot from "The Southern Raiders." Zuko and Katara are both outside, and it is raining. Katara is letting her ice daggers drop from not killing Yon Rha, and she has a sad expression on her face. Zuko, a little ways behind her, looks at her with a very surprised expression. A text box reads, "do you ever meet someone and you're just amazed that such a kind and pure soul could exist on this planet."

Image 7: This is a screenshot from "Sozin's Comet: Avatar Aang." Zuko is writhing on the ground in the outside area of the Fire Nation palace after being struck by lightning to protect Katara. His face is twisted in a very painful expression. Katara is seen in the background trying to reach Zuko but being interrupted by a lightning strike that came in her way. A textbox has three threads in it. The first thread reads, "Tell me the story about how the sun loved the moon so much he died every night to let her breath." The next thread reads, "DID YOU JUST GIVE ME FEELS OVER THE SUN AND MOON." The last thread reads, "SHIPPING IT.”

Image 8: This is a screenshot from "The Southern Raiders." Zuko and Katara are outside, and Katara is talking to a point somewhere behind the camera, with Zuko just behind her holding a travel sack slung over his shoulder and looking in the direction of the same point. They both have strong, determined expressions. A text box reads, "do you have those people that you’d go anywhere with unconditionally, like they could say ‘let’s go check out that dumpster’ and you’d be like ‘i’m in’ "

Image 9: This is a screenshot from "The Southern Raiders." Zuko and Katara stand across from each other on a pier during sunset. They are gazing into each other’s eyes. Zuko has a neutral expression, while Katara has a soft and smiling expression. A text box reads, "I'm FED UP of 'dating' when will I just see someone who sees me and We just both See Each other."

Image 10: This is a screenshot from "Sozin's Comet: Avatar Aang." Zuko and Katara are outside in the Fire Nation palace with a red sky in the background. Zuko is lying on the ground, and has been flipped over by Katara, who is sitting beside him, so he is facing her and we can’t see his face. Katara has a scared and concerned expression as she looks at Zuko’s face. Her left hand is in his hair, just above his neck, supporting his head. Her right hand is over against his chest. A text box reads, "I'm a sucker for ships that could kill each other, but would die for each other."

End Image ID.)

#zutara #zuko #katara #zutara textposts #zuko textposts #katara textposts #atla textposts #text post meme #incorrect zutara quotes #incorrect zuko quotes #incorrect katara quotes #incorrect avatar quotes #incorrect avatar the last airbender quotes #atla incorrect quotes #my textposts #ana’s creations

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cipheress-to-k-pop · 3 years

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Could you PLEASE write a Zuko x reader!airbender one-shot with this prompt ❛ In all your wanderings, have you seen others like me ? "

I'm really really sorry I pondered on this one for literal MONTHS because it sounds really interesting but I really couldn't think of an idea for it

I wrote something but I ended up not really liking but I didn't wanna delete it cuz all my hard work it so if you wanna read it it'll be below the cut but it's definitely not one of the works that I'm proud of and god bless your eyeballs if you decide to read it

“In all your wanderings, have you seen others like me?” Zuko asked you one day while you both were on your backs and staring up at the sky. You looked at him curiously, taking in his profile carefully. The scar on his skin looked painful but when you asked him about it he always said he could barely feel it anymore.

“What do you mean by others like you? What are you like?” You replied obtusely. You had met all kinds of people, all kinds of creatures in your life, living in the spiritual world. Finding a human that was like you was rare however.

“A fire bender.” He asked, voice sounding thick.

“Once.” You vaguely recalled meeting an old man amongst the spiritual creatures, “His name was Iroh. Of the Fire Nation. Do you know him?”

Zuko’s ears perked and he sat up, leaning over you with surprise over his features. So he did know Iroh.

“He’s my uncle.” He said quickly and you knew the conversation wasn’t done. You remembered him speaking of his uncle and it wasn’t difficult to tell that he was close to him. Zuko spoke about his uncle like Iroh himself had strung all the stars in the sky, with the devotion and awe that a son would have.

“Ah, he did mention a nephew.” You recalled, a hand coming to run over your chin, trying to remember every single thing he said, “He said he felt bad for leaving his nephew so soon, but he knew his time was up and that his nephew had a family to take good care of him.”

Zuko’s eyes got glossy and you sighed, running your fingers through his hair delicately when he tried to hide the quiver of his lips.

“I’m sorry, my love. If I had known, I would’ve told Iroh to send some words through you.” You suddenly felt apologetic. It was a weird thing to tell him, you knew that you couldn’t have done anything, you knew that saying this couldn’t change anything.

Yet you felt the need to blame yourself. If you had gone the extra miles then you could have given Zuko something very special.

He smiled warmly at you, capturing your lips with a gentle kiss. You sighed against his mouth, wrapping your arms around his neck and deepening the kiss.

“This was more than enough.” He murmured, burying his face into your neck, “I’m glad you got to meet him.”

“Me too, I can see how he rubbed off on you.”

At his questioning glance you continued, “Wise beyond your years. Kind eyes. Approachable.”

“You think I’m approachable?” He seemed surprised that you thought of him that way. Sure, his title was intimidating, as was his bending, but Zuko was nothing more than a giant awkward bean. Appa was more intimidating than him.

“Of course. You’re incredibly handsome.”

“Even with this scar?”

And there it was, the insecurity he tried so much to hide. Zuko knew that his scar wasn’t anything to be ashamed of, he had been told time and time again. He knew that his scar made people know of his harsh life, even as the prince of the fire nation.

Zuko was told time and time again how his scar made the women of his nation more confident to show off their own and he knew that he wouldn’t have it any other way.

But some days he’d look in the mirror and see the gruesome scar on his face and wonder how anyone could see anything other than a monster. How could you love him so earnestly when he had such an awful face?

He knew you weren’t shallow that way to only love someone for their looks. He knew that you didn’t care of his scars.

But still there were days where his insecurities would show themselves and he had to be reassured by you. You were more than happy to solidify his belief in your feelings.

Your eyes softened, noticing the vulnerable expression on his face. It was moments like these where you felt like his heart was in your hands, he had given it to you so delicately and now it was your responsibility to care for. Everyday he gave you the opportunity to break it and time and time again you have shown him that you would never ever hurt him intentionally.

You pecked Zuko lightly, smiling when you noticed him grinning at you.

“I love your scar just as much as I love the rest of you. Not inspite of it.”

How could you say the right thing every single time? How did you know the exact words to make him melt in your arms and show you the vulnerability that was so rare to others?

Zuko knew, laying in your arms, you were his soulmate.

#thanks for the ask!#sorry sweetie #zuko x reader #zuko x you

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beyond-far-horizons · 4 years

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Analysing the Zutara Cave Scene from a Writing and Psychological perspective

Forgive me, I’m an enthusiastic newbie to the ATLA fandom and Zutara (mainly because I knew the ship was perfect for me but was not canon and so I held off watching it for years.) So I know you’ve heard it all before but I wanted to break down this famous scene in more depth from my background as both a writer and a student of psychology. It’s also important since the age old ship wars are being resurrected (which I want no part of) and Zutara and this scene has been looked down on and belittled from some quarters.

Warning - Wall of Text TM incoming!

The main thing that gets most people is these mortal enemies going from hating each other to being open and vulnerable in about five minutes of screen time. I get the impression more time and therefore more conversation has gone on off screen, but it’s amazing that Katara goes from tirade at the literal face of the Fire Nation (a country whose plagued her people and killed her mother, and Zuko himself who has hunted her and her friends, captured her at least twice and has had several intense fights with her)

to tenderly touching Zuko’s face and “let me use our one of its kind Holy Water TM to maybe heal your face.”

Also as others have pointed out Zuko lets this ‘peasant’ (who defeated him, wounded his pride and foiled his lifelong goal several times) touch his scar when he doesn’t let anyone else do that at this point, even girls he’s been close to.

I doubt many Zutara shippers think this happened because the two suddenly decided the other was hot, even though there might be an unconscious physical attraction under all the animosity. But no-one can deny the writers were trying to show a shared connection that makes them open up to each other. That to me makes the relationship much deeper whether it’s platonic or romantic.

Katara, despite her understandable rage at Zuko, is surprisingly open to forgiving and helping him as soon as he -

a) mentions they have something in common - the Fire Nation being responsible in some way for the loss of their mothers.

b) his resolution to make his own destiny and overcome his difficult past associated with the scar.

I just love this about her character. She’s passionate, feisty and full of integrity but she can’t stop herself wanting to help make things better, even to one of her worst enemies. Her compassion is such a strength and it comes out even more when she realises she’s accidentally hurt his feelings re his face.

Zuko in turn is softer with her than I’ve ever seen him with others, even Iroh most of the time. He doesn’t get angry or even really defensive and he opens up about his mother for the first time. Extraordinary considering he’s talking to an enemy.

But this isn’t the first time he’s tried to win Katara over against his normal combative persona. When he captured her in Ep 9 you’d expect him to threaten her, especially surrounded by his men and bloodthirsty pirates. Instead he asks for her understanding and tells her (the little peasant and enemy of the Fire Nation) about his lost honour.

He then goes momentarily into full skeevy villain mode (which I loved) and offers her necklace back by placing it round her neck. (As an aside, yes this was totally the wrong tactic considering it was her mother’s who the Fire Nation killed, but I do love that he unknowingly offered her a Water Tribe betrothal necklace.)

Analysing it more deeply from a writing and psychology perspective, I’d say Katara represents the integrity and vulnerability that is at the core of Zuko’s character - the thing that got him that scar and banishment from his warlike family.

The same side he struggles with and that Iroh tries to heal and encourage within him. It’s masterly from a writing POV that they brought this mirror up and allowed Zuko to connect and own this aspect of himself again briefly before Azula (the opposite representation and Zuko’s ‘shadow’) literally crashes the party. This is truly his ‘crossroads of destiny’, raising the stakes and therefore making us - the audience - ache all the more when Zuko makes the wrong but understandable decision to choose Azula and his family’s version of him and betray not just Katara but Iroh too (dat angst.)

(As an aside look at the framing of the above shot. They do this alot showing him literally caught between two sides. In the previous scene with Azula and Iroh, they show both the unscarred and then scarred profile of Zuko to show the ‘two sides of him’ symbolically represented by Azula and Iroh.)

Two sides, Fire and Water, the battle of opposites and the bringing of balance is of course the core of ATLA, and Zuko and Katara’s fraught relationship sums this theme up perfectly. Another reason so many still ship them and feel aggrieved by the non-canon ending.

I think Zuko is so wounded by Katara’s refusal to forgive him and so determined to earn that forgiveness is because she represents his true ‘honour’ - the right way to be - to fight for balance and justice with integrity no matter what. Thus he must make amends to her, not just as someone he has wronged, but as the mirror of that aspect in himself.

Thematically this is tied up beautifully in him asking her to join him to defeat Azula in the final season and them working together to do so.

(As another aside, the theme of balance and Yin and Yang is also mirrored in Zuko and Katara’s relationship and character development. At the start Katara is the caring, altruistic almost motherly sort and Zuko is the angry, aggressive pursuer. However like Yin and Yang that contain an aspect of the other within them, whenever Katara meets Zuko she becomes more aggressive and is allowed to process her grief and anger, unlike with her friends. Zuko, in turn is often softened by her, reawakening his compassion and deeper feelings. Yes these aspects are also fostered by others, but Season 3 highlights this dynamic to Zutara allowing Katara to address her anger and Zuko to practice caregiving and support.)

Coming back to the Cave Scene - the most poignant part for me isn’t actually the face touch (even though I love it). It’s the final glance between them as Katara and Aang leave. Katara looks back worried, it’s as if she can sense the threshold Zuko is on and feels torn between staying and supporting him and her duty to Aang. I feel if they had had more time together Azula would have had less chance to turn Zuko.

He looks back at her softly and there’s a beautiful musical cue, hinting at things unsaid and unfinished, she gives him a final lingering glance, still anxious, then goes.

We all know what happens next.

Conclusion

Looking at this from a purely plot point of view it -

raises the emotional stakes and therefore make Zuko’s betrayal hurt worse.

Sets up Zuko knowing about Katara’s healing abilities and Spirit Water so he knows there is a possibility the Avatar could be saved. This all plays into the shenanigans of Book 3, letting Zuko go back to the Fire Nation, Azula giving him the credit and then letting down her father etc.

Giving Zuko more character development work to earn everyone’s trust esp Katara’s when he finally makes the right choice.

However I’m surprised that Bryke didn’t realise how this episode would look to the eyes of most fans esp Zutarians. Yes you could say it’s hetero-normative and why can’t they be just platonic etc but it was the Noughties, it’s a kids show and they are blatantly playing into those well known tropes - Zuko’s previous verging-on flirtatious treatment of Katara, his uncharacteristic softness and openness with her, her touching his scar, the music, their lingering glances, Aang’s jealous look (you could argue it was animosity towards his enemy but while we get this from Zuko, it is definitely played as suspicion about a potential rival so close to ‘his girl’ from Aang’s side.)

Ultimately the writers didn’t choose the romantic route, which I feel is a real shame and missed opportunity because of the depth of feeling and potential there. But what I really resent is when people act like Zutarians were stupid and/or biased for seeing and loving that potential. I hope this analysis has shown that the romantic subtext was strong (and much more believable for me than with Katara and Aang) and in line with the core themes of ATLA itself. This also refutes the suggestion that Zutara was somehow dark, toxic or shallow cos ‘he’s a bad boy’ or something.

Zuko was owning his own struggles, emotions and destiny in this scene, it’s why Katara finally opens up to him. She doesn’t have to ‘do the work for him’, but she supports him in it as he supports her later on when he earns her forgiveness. And that’s why I love it!

Thank you for coming to my TED talk...

#zutara #zuko #katara #atla #avatar the last airbender #meta #my meta #my writing #long post is long #wall of text tm #anti-kataang #better put that in there even though I don't really go into the rival ship #antis please don't interact I respect your right to ship let's be civil

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dauntingdarling · 4 years

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In Defense of the Weeping Monk

So during my first ramped scrolling of Weeping Monk content post-completion of the series, I came across a number of people against the Weeping Monk not just for this storyline but because of how people have been quick to obsess over him and ship Nimulot.

In particular, calling the Nimulot ship racist or homophobic, his character a predator, and those shipping him with anyone toxic. While these points are valid and come from a place (I would assume) of good intentions (anti-homophobia, anti-racist, protect the children etc.) they are strong accusations that should not be linked to this character. And here’s why:

Racism:

-I’m going to be blunt here. Seeing as Racism isn’t a joke, it shouldn’t be thrown around as an excuse not to like WM just because said character didn’t end up with a person of color. If you don’t like him, you don’t like him. Don’t blanket cover your reasoning with a serious accusation that even today is still running rampid and needs to be taken seriously in today’s society (see George Floyd)

-It would be one thing to call out a show if they were expressing Racist undertones, but Cursed hasn't. Two of the most powerful characters in King Arthur lore are played by wonderful actors of color (Arthur and sister Morgana) and should this show continue, we will see the pair of them raise in the ranks of power for both good (King Arthur) and evil (Morgan le fay).

-People are stating that WM should have been black, as we’ve had more than enough white edgy boys out in shows and movies (see Winter Solider, Kylo Ren/Ben solo...) I’m not against the idea of a black or someone other than white actor portraying WM. That’s not my fight. My fight is over disliking Daniel Sharman’s casting because of his race rather than his acting skill. The guy plays WM fantastically and shouldn’t be docked points just because he’s a white British guy. Like... come on.

-I could go on, but we have more topics to cover so I’ll close this part with this: keep up the good fight to end Racism, but don’t use it to elevate your own ship/actor profile/ etc.

Throwing around this topic to benefit your own belief (more than just in media) is what makes people degrade racism in the first place. Don’t be that person.

Homophobia:

-WHY WOULD SHIPPING NIMULOT BE HOMOPHOBIC? WHY

-I would have thought this show already established that they were not homophobic seen by the great response Nimue gave to Morgana after spotting the scene above^. She normalized their relationship as any other and that was beautiful *chef’s kiss*

-Back to WM, from what I read on the topic from a person with this view, they stated that because people are shipping Nimulot over Nimue and Morgana (I’m sorry I don’t know their ship name), they are homophobic? WHAT

-Dude that’s great that you saw the fantastic chemistry between Morgana and Nimue, but do you really want Nimue to bed both siblings like that?

-What I just stated isn’t my real fight on the topic, it’s just something I just thought of as I am here typing away. My fight here is just because Nimue hasn't entertained the possibility of a romantic relationship with Morgana doesn’t mean those shipping Nimue and WM together are homophobic. We just are ex-reylo trash (as I’m noticing so far) and love the enemies to lovers trop.

-Also I am pretty sure that those shipping Nimulot adore the relationship Nimue has with Morgana as they give off major feminism vibes. And have a healthy relationship overall.

Which brings me to my next point:

Toxic Shipping:

-No one is stating that WM should hook up with Nimue immediately. And if they are, take notes. WM still needs to grow from the horrors he has done in the past and what he has ahead of him. Only then would he be deserving of Nimue (should she take him)

-I honestly believe people are not shipping Nimulot because it’s toxic, but rather because they hope that WM will come around on the other side as a better man (for he has been through the ringer) and should find peace. With Nimue? Sure, if the storyline fits.

-I’ve read that some don’t want Nimue to be the fixer upper of WM, and I agree, but do not find this statement to be enough to call the Nimue ship toxic by any means. We just want to see everyone happy, is that so bad?

-And after growing up idolizing the major character arch of Zuko from Avatar the Last Airbender, I can’t help but hope (as the optimist that I am) that WM will get a similar ending to Zuko.

-As for why people want Nimue with him and not, say Gwenevere, it is because of all the similarities they carry so far that complement each other (while also playing the opposites attract card). Similarities include:

cursed out fay (N- the villagers scorning her, WM- the monks attitude toward him as a weapon and not a being)

lingering on the edge of dark and light (N with the cursed sword, WM with his faith)

scars (that happen to be on their backs)

their relationship with Squirrel (both protective, not smothering)

Symbols of their side in war (WM is the monk’s best fighter, N is their queen)

I’m sure people can give you more reasons. This is just what I came up with on the spot after one watch through of the series. If you have others, please write them below, I’m curious.

Now onto the topic that I find to be atrocious:

Predator:

-EXCUSE ME, a predator prays on others. How on God’s green earth is WM that? He was a literal sword for hire/raised to fight against his kind through mental strain from this messed up ideology of christianity.

-And for those calling his relationship with Squirrel unhealthy... fair point but I’m not done yet.

-I don’t mean all this to say that what he did under the red monks was good or even acceptable. No it wasn’t, the dude was practicing mass genocide of his own race, that’s fucked up. (That torture scene in front of the mill was really something)

-But as we learn in later episodes, all of his actions linger on not being damed and going to heaven (I assume) as seen in the scene when we got a nice look of him shirtless while he was having a moral crisis.

-Speaking of moral crisis, did you notice that he had one when the rest of the villains present in this show do not? Even Iris (a fantastic villain) had a tragic backstory with her family like WM, but rather than question her motives, she starts on the villain path.

-Now while I do admit he doesn’t treat Squirrel right in the beginning, it makes sense for his character and where he is at. Not to say that hurting a child and using him as a pawn to kill leftover tribe members is justified.

-But the writers always wrote the interactions between Squirrel and WM with a hint of humor. Squirrel was always talking back, calling WM and his horse ugly, and even hissing out “you” in front of the red monks. All this going on while WM maintains a blank expression, that to viewers is almost comical (because it breaks away from the sad emo boy cliche)

-In the end, WM needed someone like Squirrel to get out of the disastrous rut the red monks had WM in. For WM to start on this journey of his (that I’m sure will continue through season 2) he needed to show he had a moral code.

-Also, like many complicated characters, WM never thought through the damage he has done and how his work impacted children up until G called him out for it. For this reason, I think G had just as much a part of getting WM to revolt as Squirrel did.

- I think his relationship with Squirrel will continue to grow into a more protective association now that G is dead. G made Squirrel into a knight, the next step is for this kid to train like one. Who better than Mr. Lancelot himself. (They better have a training scene in next season or I will riot)

-And lastly, all of you who know the lore of Lancelot understand that he will become the best of the best and also the most loyal and chivalrous knight out there. What a better way to love a character with these attributes than if he started in the proverbial gutter and grows to understand and value these characteristics? It’s the shiny ending that he needs to work hard to achieve and that is what, at the end of the day, all lovers of WM want to see in the next few seasons.

Him becoming that knight in shining armor.

#cursed netflix #weeping monk #lancelot #nimue #purcival #rant #daniel sharman #katherine langford #nimulot #anti nimulot

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lillian-lang · 3 years

Text

Zutarians, I need some help...

Happy Zutara week, y’all! I’m Lil.

I’ve been working on my fic for...awhile now, and I’m at the point where everything’s kind of turned into word salad. I’d like to finish this thing, soon, but I need editors - badly. So, if you’re one of those folks who can write. (And particularly if you can write Katara or Zuko’s voice really well.) Please, please take a look. Friendly feedback is welcome!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/25653406/chapters/62276836

And here’s an excerpt from a Zutara moment below the cut:

Katara looks out from high up in the north wing of the palace—reserved especially for the royal family and their guests. She can see across acres of bleak concrete pavement leading up to the palace gates and, behind them, the jagged volcano walls of the capital city rising in the distance. It isn’t a particularly comforting sight.

Fifty-six bacui berry, fifty-seven bacui berry, …she counts to herself. Until, finally, she reaches one hundred bacui berry, and turns away from the gray window, back towards Azula’s wide canopy bed. The princess’s mouth hangs open and a trickle of drool spills out, but otherwise, she looks better than she had an hour ago. Katara removes the last acupuncture needle from her wrist and places it onto a gauze pad, which she rolls up and hands to Zuko.

“These need to be sterilized in a white-hot flame for twenty minutes before they can be used again,” she instructs.

Zuko puts a hand up to the bundle. A flame appears at the center of his palm. “Do you want me to just—?”

“Sorry Zuko, but you’re not hot enough,” she says, without thinking.

The corners of his mouth flicker upward into the kind of smirk she hasn’t seen since his ponytail days. Spirits, he’s infuriating, she thinks—grateful that her skin is dark enough to hide a blush. She removes the rest of her supplies from Azula’s bedside and takes a seat by the window, trying to ignore the burning sensation of Zuko’s eyes lingering on the back of her neck. She forces herself to concentrate on the little vials and instruments in her hand, but it’s no good. Everything is in the wrong place. She’ll have to take it all out again and repack it later.

“Katara,” he says, coming up beside her at the window. “Did you ever read Love Amongst the Dragons?”

Katara shoots him a wry smile. “No,” she says. “Funnily enough, we didn’t have a lot of fire nation epics in our village library.”

“Azula made fun of me, but I always liked it.” He smiles a little to himself, then points, drawing Katara’s attention to a spot on the grim horizon. “Do you see that mountain, there? The one that curves?”

Katara shivers, drawing a little closer to Zuko. “The one that looks like a claw?” she asks.

He nods. “I know, it’s scary, isn’t it? If you believe the old story, it’s the claw of the great dragon, himself. It’s where the name of the district comes from — Kaa Garr. Great Dragon. And, right there where the mountain turns in on itself…” he moves his finger up the pane a little so Katara can see a black spot in the distance, “is the prison where I’m keeping my father.”

Katara lets out a little involuntary gasp and presses her fingers to her mouth. Zuko looks down at her, a wry glint in his eye. “If you thought my sister’s arrangements were bad,” he says, “you should see his.”

“I’m sorry,” is all she can think to say.

“Don’t be,” he shrugs. “You know my father isn’t exactly a nice guy. I didn’t get this scar on my face from a training accident, you know?”

“I know,” Katara says, reaching up to touch the edges of his burned skin with the practiced hands of a healer.

In truth, they had never really talked about how he’d gotten his scar, but Katara had heard rumors going all the way back to her time in the Fire Nation with Toph, Sokka, and Aang. Zuko allows her fingers to wander over his scar for a moment, tracing the lines and folds on the puckered skin. He gets lost for a minute in the phantom sensation—wondering if he’s only imagining the gentle pressure. It’s so tender and intimate that his breath catches in his chest for fear that a sharp exhale might disturb the delicate balance between them. But then Azula flops over in bed, bringing Zuko back to himself. He clears his throat, and Katara’s hand drops to her side.

“It just makes me wonder if I should be trying to help my father…you know…the way you’re helping Azula.”

Katara tries not to let her emotions show on her face. She does not believe for one second that Ozai is entitled to the same treatment as his daughter, but she also believes that, ultimately, the decision is Zuko’s to make.

“Do you think your father deserves a second chance?” She asks, trying to keep her voice even.

“No!” he shouts, raking his fingers through his hair in frustration. “That’s the problem, I don’t think he deserves it! But I can’t figure out why. I mean, he not that different from my sister, is he? But, every day, I felt guilty about Azula, and every day I’m grateful that my father is still locked up!”

Katara watches as Zuko paces back and forth across the antique carpet, winding himself up. “Then you came, and I feel better about Azula—I really do, Katara—but now I’m suddenly guilty about my father. I’m the fire lord, shouldn’t I at least be fair?”

“Zuko,” Katara says, holding out an arm to stop his pacing, “Don’t take this the wrong way, but when was the last time you had a bath? Or slept in a real bed?”

He blinks down at her, “Uh, it might have been a few days. Why?”

“I think,” she says, using her most soothing voice, “that all these big questions can wait for a day or two while you rest.”

He looks skeptical, but Katara insists: “Look at you, Zuko, you’re exhausted. I’m not saying that it won’t be difficult, but I promise it will all seem better in the m-morning.” As she says it, she stifles a yawn, and Katara suddenly realizes that she, too, is exhausted.

Noticing this, Zuko takes the medicine bag from her hand and, after checking all of Azula’s locks, leads her down the hall to her room. It’s hard to tell with Zuko, but he seems excited about something. The corners of his mouth keep twitching up, like he’s trying to hide a smile. The whole of the third-floor hallway smells like fresh paint, even though the hallways look the same as they’ve always been. It makes Katara’s head swim. When they arrive at what she assumes will be her bedroom here in the Fire Nation, Zuko throws open the door for her, and Katara gasps.

The room is in the style of the Fire Nation—a wooden chest for clothes, a low-slung writing table, and an imposing four poster bed, but the details are all Water Tribe. The walls are covered with bright blue paper depicting life in the poles. The furniture handles are all solid, gleaming mother of pearl. The bed is strewn with gigantic, fluffy pelts that could only have come from the south pole.

“What do you think?” Zuko asks, studying her face. “Is it too much? I had rooms made up for the Earth Kingdom and the Air Nation, too. I don’t want you to think I’m abusing your culture, but I do want my guests to feel welcome here. I know the Fire Nation royal palace isn’t anybody’s favorite place.” He winces, thinking about the terrible stain of his father’s legacy.

Katara considers Zuko kindly. He’s hovering just outside the room—neither in nor out. She realizes that she’s never felt more warmly towards the young fire lord.

“You’re a lot like your uncle, you know that?” she says, after a minute.

Katara watches as his guarded features break into a genuine smile. “Thanks,” he says, running his fingers along the edge of the doorframe. “You know I was hoping you or your brother would be the first ones to use this room.”

“You’re lucky it’s me! Sokka would be jumping on the bed, already.”

Zuko laughs, and Katara grins with pride. It’s not easy making Zuko laugh.

“I didn’t even ask!” He says, eagerly. “How is Sokka? And Aang?”

Now it’s Katara’s turn to look guarded. “Sokka’s fine,” she says, trying to keep her voice neutral. “He’s angry because he can’t go to Ba Sing Se without Appa…” Then, anticipating Zuko’s next question, Katara explains everything in a rush: “Aang left for Omashu. He got a letter from Bumi saying that the city was unstable, and he left me and Sokka behind.”

Zuko’s reaction is not what Katara expects. His eyebrow furrows, and he lets out a troubled groan, so sharp and low that Katara can almost feel the reverberations in his chest. “Katara…Bumi is dead. He died about a week ago. Didn’t Aang tell you?”

“Oh,” is all Katara can manage. She plops herself down at the end of the bed and looks up at Zuko, dazed. “No, Aang hasn’t written to me since he left for Omashu.” The admission earns her a sharp sideways glance, but she doesn’t notice. She’s too wrapped up in thoughts of the Earth King.

“What happened?” she asks.

“I don’t know,” he admits, lowering himself down beside her on the bed. “The Fire Nation has…informants…in Omashu, but I haven’t heard from them in a few days.” The way he hesitates before the word ‘informants’ makes Katara wonder if he is uncomfortable having spies in the Earth Kingdom. Zuko had always preferred fair-play and transparency, even at his own expense.

“But you have suspicions,” she presses him.

He nods. “To tell you the truth, I’m glad Sokka’s not in Ba Sing Se right now.”

“Why not?” Katara gasps, “It’s not unstable, too, is it?”

“No,” he says, resting his head against the bedpost and letting his eyelids droop. “At least none of my advisors seem to think it is. I’m the one who has an issue. And it’s only a feeling, Katara…”

“Because of Kai Kozu?” she asks.

Zuko’s snaps to attention so quickly that he sprains his neck. “Where did you hear that name?” he growls.

“Bumi wrote about him in his letter to Aang,” Katara explains.

“Ah, that makes sense,” Zuko says, rubbing the sprain. “Kai Kozu used to keep a pretty low profile. Barely anyone outside the Earth Kingdom had ever heard of him… But lately he’s been moving more and more into the public eye. I don’t like it. He’s already got power in Kyoshi and Chin. It wouldn’t surprise me if he had plans for Omashu and Ba Sing Se, too.”

“Oh no! Zuko!” Katara’s hand flies to the reassuring carvings on her mother’s necklace, and she traces them apprehensively. “What about Toph and Suki? What about your uncle? Isn’t he still in the city?”

“I did write to them,” Zuko shrugs. “I asked them to stay here in the palace, but Toph and Suki are out in the country somewhere. I can’t reach them.”

“And your uncle?”

“Uncle doesn’t want to leave his tea shop. And besides…” Zuko blushes brick red, “I think he might have a lady friend in the city. He’s acting like a love-sick teenager.”

Katara watches as Zuko drags his fingers through his hair, tugging at the ends. “You’re really worried about this, aren’t you?” she asks.

“I am,” he admits.

Katara leans back into the mountain of fluffy pillows and soft white furs, and closes her eyes—too tired to care that Zuko is still watching her. She says a silent prayer for Toph, Suki, and Iroh in Ba Sing Se, and thanks every spirit she can name for her father’s stubbornness. At least she knows Sokka is safe in the Southern Water Tribe—far, far away from the Earth Kingdom capital…

As she drifts off into sleep, she reaches out to feel Zuko’s warm body beside her—his chest rising and falling evenly. She draws a little closer, and he opens his arms wide to make room for her. She pillows her head in the crook of his arm and breathes in a scent like something out of a dream. In fact, she thinks it must have been a dream, because when she wakes up in the night he is gone, and the spot where she imagined he had lain is awash with moonlight.

#zutara #zutara week #wip #y'all please help

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scarletemeterio-thesecond · 4 years

Text

New Opportunity (Zuko x Reader)

Warnings: mentions of death.

Genre: Angst, Fluff.

Fandom: Avatar The Last Airbender.

Summary: Zuko and reader are in love with each other but they’re not ready to say it out loud.

Word Count: 2482

This is part of a writing challenge from @fromthewatertribe! I used prompts number 4: “I’ve always been in love with you, since the beginning”; number 6: “I missed you so, so much”; and number 40: “We’re more than friends and you know it”. Go check her profile!

Reader is gender neutral!

Zuko and you used to be friends back in the Fire Nation until he was banished. At first, you would write him some letters and he’d even answer from time to time, but eventually, you became as close as strangers. It wasn’t anyone’s fault in particular, and you knew that the two of you had different things to think and worry about, but sometimes you just wished that things could’ve been different.

You soon realized that there was no use in wanting to change the past, and even though the loss of your friend hurt you, you knew there was nothing you could do and that sometimes things needed to end. So even though it took you a few years to acknowledge it, you also realized that there was nothing else for you in the Fire Nation. You never supported the war and hated how much suffering your country had brought on to the rest of the world, so you decided to run away.

On your journey away from home, you happened to encounter the Avatar, and eventually, you joined them. They told you a few stories of their previous adventures, and whenever they named Zuko, your heart ached a little. You knew there was no point in wishing for him to magically come to you and be your friend again, but sometimes you still liked to dream.

But one day you realized that you didn’t have to keep dreaming because he was already in front of you. He said he wanted to join your group, and everyone was super skeptical about his offer. You tried to act the same way as they did, but deep down you knew he was telling the truth, and you wanted him to join you.

And eventually, he did. And when that happened, and you started spending more and more time together, you realized that all your feelings had never gone away. You realized he was still very important to you. He also realized he was still very in love with you, and he knew he had to do something about it.

From the very first moment, you tried to catch up after all those years. You were happy to see him and even happier to see him smile. You’d never seen him with his scar, but to you, he was still the same Zuko he’d always been and even though you’d never said it out loud, he was aware of that. He was also very glad to be by your side, especially since you always made him feel at home.

Deep down, both of you knew about your feelings for each other, but for some reason, you’d never actually admitted it out loud. And, quite frankly, it was easier that way. You were too afraid to lose him again, and you didn’t want to get too attached. But you were totally lying to yourself because you were already in too deep, you just didn’t want to admit it.

The thing was that everyone knew, even Zuko, but he obviously didn’t want to pressure you, so it was a never-ending cycle of indecisiveness over telling him or not something he was already aware of. And it was for that exact reason that spending time with him was both a torture and a blessing.

•••

You were sitting at one of the edges of the temple, with your feet hanging. The sun was about to set and you were by yourself thinking about your life and a whole bunch of things when suddenly a voice caught your attention.

“Mind if I join you?” You looked up and your eyes met Zuko’s, and you moved a little to the side so he could sit next to you. “What are you doing here by yourself?”

“Just thinking, it’s very peaceful here,” you replied and he hummed in response. “Did you need something or just missed my company?”

“No, I just wanted to be with you,” he answered while giggling. “This may sound cheesy, but after spending so much time apart, I kinda want to make the most of it, you know?” You nodded in response while still looking up front, thinking about his words. “I know I already said this a million times, but I missed you so, so much.“

You lifted your head and looked at him. "I missed you too, Zuko, a lot.” You smiled and so did he, and then you let out a sigh. “Who would’ve thought that after three years we would be at the Western Air Temple talking about our lives?” You lay back on the floor, making Zuko turn around a bit so he could still look at you.

“Well, there’s no place I’d rather be,” he said while looking directly at your eyes. You smiled softly and even blushed a little. The tension in the air was evident, but neither of you had the courage to make the first step, so you stayed in silence.

You sat down again and looked at the sky, admiring the sunset. “I don’t think I could ever get tired of this view,” you commented. “It’s so beautiful.”

“It sure is,” he agreed, without paying any attention to anything except for you.

•••

It was late at night and everyone was asleep, except for you. You got out of your shared tent with Katara and sat next to where the fireplace had been lit up a few hours later. You’d had a nightmare, and it had felt extremely real.

You were all forced to leave the Air Temple, so now you were camping. You’d dreamt about Zuko going to face Azula, only that in your dream, he ended up getting extremely hurt, and you thought that you’d lose him again.

You snapped out of your thoughts when you felt a hand on your shoulder. You quickly pulled away and finally calmed down when you saw that it was Zuko.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“It’s okay,” you mumbled. He took a seat next to you and you instinctively rested your head on his shoulder.

“What are you doing awake?” He asked.

“What are you doing awake?” You teased him and he giggled a little.

“I asked first,” he whispered. You took a deep breath and closed your eyes, replaying your nightmare in your head.

“I had a nightmare,” you said. He took a hold of one of your hands and started caressing it with his thumb.

“Do you want to talk about it?” You knew you wanted to talk about it, but wondered how much you could say without actually confessing your feelings. After a few moments of silence, you decided that it didn’t matter and you told him anyways.

“You died, Zuko,” you said after telling him your dream. “And I don’t know, I guess I’m afraid of losing you again, this time for good,” you admitted.

“Hey, look at me,” you did as he said and lifted your head from his shoulder, shifting a little to your side so you could be face to face. “I’m right here, okay? You don’t have to be afraid of that because I’ll always be by your side, (Y/N).” He brought the hand that he was holding to his face and planted a soft kiss in it. You closed your eyes and suddenly you felt some tears running down your face, and you also immediately felt his arms wrapping around you. “It’s okay, I’m here, don’t worry,” he kept repeating.

You had your head on his chest and you wrapped your arms around his waist, getting closer to him. You eventually calmed down while listening to his heartbeat and stayed there while he ran his hands through your back and hair.

There was a bit of silence between you two, and he even thought that you’d fallen asleep, but he realized you hadn’t when you got rid pf your tears with one of your hands.

“How are you feeling?” He asked.

“I’m fine,” you mumbled and softie pulled away from him. “Oh, no, I left some tears on your clothes,” you said in an apologizing tone.

“It’s okay, it doesn’t matter,” he replied. “Are you sure you’re okay? Do you want to go to bed now or not?”

“I think I’d like to stay here for a little longer if you don’t mind,” you answered.

“I don’t, I’ll stay here with you,” he said.

You smiled at him and proceeded to answer his other question. “And I’m better, I promise. I’m always better with you by my side”.

•••

You’ve been hiding in Ember Island for a few days now, and you decided to enjoy the beach since you had a little free time before dinner.

When you went outside, you saw that Zuko was sitting on the sand and you decided to join him.

“Hey,” you said once you were close enough for him to hear you, letting him know that you were there.

“Oh, hi, (Y/N),” he greeted you. “Did something happen?”

“No, I just wanted to come here since it’s Katara’s turn to make dinner and I saw you, and now here I am."

He smiled at you and took a deep breath. "Do you remember when we came here?” He began saying. “We were like 9 I think, and I remember begging my mom to let you come with us at least once,” he recalled.

“I do, I remember I was so excited, it was my first time going to the beach,” you said. “Things were so much different back then,” you mumbled and thought about everything that had happened to you two. You snapped out of your thoughts and saw that he definitely had something on his mind. “What are you thinking about, Zu?” He looked at you for a moment and smiled briefly.

“About everything, I guess,” he replied. “My past, my family, our friends… us.” You grabbed one of his hands and intertwined your fingers with his. “It’s just that things have changed a lot in such a short time, you know?”

“Yeah, I know,” you whispered. “I understand what you’re talking about, being back here has been making me think a lot, too. I’m just glad that between all those changes we managed to find each other again,” you said.

“Me too, (Y/N).” He squeezed your hand a little bit and rested his head on your shoulder. “I wish we could freeze time and stay here forever, just like this,” he mumbled.

“Yeah, that would be nice.”

•••

Going to that play ended up being a bad choice, and on your way back to the house every complained about it. You, on the other hand, just stayed silent. You didn’t like at all that there was an implied romance between Zuko and Katara, and it made you feel bad since you had feelings for him.

“Well, let’s just go to bed and forget about that plat,” said Sokka. Everyone agreed and said goodnight to each other.

You watched them walk away and then Katara approached you. “Hey, are you coming?”

“I think I’ll stay here for a bit,” you answered.

“Okay, just don’t stay up until late, you need to sleep,” she said. “Good night, (Y/N).”

“Good night, Katara.”

You walked over to the fountain and sat on the edge of it. You leaned back a bit and looked up at the sky, and it wasn’t long until you felt tears falling from your eyes. You felt upset and didn’t want to keep your feelings inside anymore, but you were afraid of things going badly. You felt frustrated not only with yourself but also to your current situation in general. If only you weren’t afraid, if only you weren’t a coward, if only…

You let out a sigh and rested your elbows on your knees, hiding your face in your hands. You got a little scared when you felt a hand on your shoulder, and when you saw it was Zuko, you just went back to your current position.

“Go away, Zuko,” you said.

“I’m not leaving you here like this,” he responded. He sat next to you and placed a hand on your back. “What’s going on, (Y/N)?”

“I’m just very confused,” you mumbled.

“Confused about what?”

“About everything! About my feelings, about my future, it’s just a lot sometimes.” You lifted your arms from your knees and sat straight.

“Hey, (Y/N), look at me,” he asked. “I get how you feel, okay? Trust me. But there are some things that we just can’t control.” He put one hand on your cheek, cupping your face and you leaned on it. “You don’t have to bottle everything up, you can always talk to me.” He caressed your cheek and then you quickly pulled away, getting up.

“Stop it, we can’t do this, we can’t act like this,” you said with your back facing him.

“What are you talking about? Why? I don’t understand, (Y/N).”

“Because we’re friends, Zuko!” You stood there, looking at him from a distance with tears still in your eyes.

“We’re more than friends and you know it, (Y/N),” he said while taking a step forward.

“Stop it, Zuko,” you turned around to walk away but his voice stopped you.

“Don’t walk away! Stop walking away, please.”

You turned back and your eyes met his. He walked over to you and then you broke the eye contact.

“We both know how we truly feel about each other, we just can’t keep ignoring it,” he told you.

“What’s the point? What if it doesn’t work? What if… What if I lose you again?”

“You won’t lose me, (Y/N),” he slowly took ahold of one of your hands and you turned your gaze to them. “And I know you’re scared, but shouldn’t we at least try?”

“I don’t know, Zuko…”

“Please, (Y/N),” he begged. “I love you. I’ve always been in love with you, since the beginning, and I can’t imagine my life without you in it,” he confessed.

“I can’t imagine mine without you, either,” you mumbled. He softly cupped your face once again and you finally looked at him.

“Then let’s try, (Y/N).” You took a deep breath and quickly thought about it, and then you slowly nodded.

“Okay, but slowly, please,” you said.

“Of course,” he agreed. “Is it okay if I kiss you?” He asked.

“Yeah, it is,” you answered, and then you felt his lips against yours. It was a soft and sweet kiss, and when you two pulled away, you pressed your foreheads together. You were obviously still afraid of the future, you couldn’t change that from one moment to another, but you thought that maybe, and just maybe, it would all be worth it if it meant that you had him by your side. “I love you, too, Zuko.”

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spasmsofthought · 4 years

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secrets. (zuko x reader)

A bit of a drabble that I needed to write as I procrastinate turning in a final paper for an online class. It’s all a doozy.

Love to you all! xo

This is just after the war ends, and the most recent addition to the Gaang from their travels during the war (and a recent friend to Zuko) wonders about things.

“Were you ever really going to tell me about your family?” You say, staring at the picture of Fire Lord Azulon in the gigantic, ornate hall.

It is intimidating, but also lonely. There are less similarities between him and Zuko the more you study the painting.

Eyes can have the same color and yet be totally opposite.

He waits for a moment, joining your side and also looking (read: glaring) at the painting. Pushing his buttons seems the only way you’re able to get closer to him without making yourself so obvious.

“It’s not something I like to talk about.”

“What do you like to talk about, then?” You throw back at him. His silence frustrates you in a place where there has always seemed to be whispers of intrigue and betrayal. Conspiracy theories can roam inside hallowed halls and rumored assassins have stolen life in the dark of night before. War and genocide have been plotted here. There is so much you still do not know.

As bright as fire is, it casts a lot of shadows.

Zuko doesn’t answer.

“I understand,” You begin, turning your eyes from the portrait to the profile of his face, “That it’s unpleasant to be vulnerable Zuko. I get it.”

“I don’t know if you do.” He voice trials off as he looks at the ground. He makes a motion like he’s about to shrug and walk off, but there’s something that keeps him rooted in his place.

“So, just because my dad didn’t scar my face, my mother didn’t leave in the middle of the night, and I wasn’t exiled, means I won’t understand pain or suffering or anger?! There’s a lot I haven’t told you either, Zuko...”

There is a thick tension in the air, and if Aang were here, you’d be tempted to ask if he could bend it.

“And even if I hadn’t experienced any kind of pain of suffering, there is a thing called empathy, Zuko. I can honor your pain and do my best to feel it even if I haven’t experienced it.”

His eyes catch yours, amber-colored and glowing with so many different emotions.

It seems when one struggle ends for him, another one begins. This time, though, the struggle isn’t something he can fight off with his fire-bending or his dual swords.

“If I can’t ask about your life and care, then what kind of friend would I be to you, Zuko?”

“I guess I’m not used to having so many people really care that deeply. With the exception of my uncle, most other relationships in my life have always been more on the surface.” He turns his gaze down one of the hallways.

You don’t know what he’s searching for, but you do know it won’t be anything that he can see.

“Then let’s start with one secret at a time, yeah? If you can handle that...” You give a slight laugh and place your hand on his shoulder, keeping it there for as long as you can in a show of affection and support.

His lips quirk up as he looks at you. For a second, he looks his age; like the teenager he should be. Not weighed down with the responsibilities of being one of the few people healing the whole world after a hundred year war.

“Come on, I promise I’ll go easy on you.”

Zuko only shakes his head in mirth as he trails out of the hall with you, the portrait now being forgotten as you both enjoy each other’s company.

#avatar: the last airbender #Avatar The Last Airbender #avatar: tla #avatar imagine #zuko drabble #fire lord zuko #prince zuko #zuko x reader #Zuko x OC #atla zuko #fire nation #zuko one shot #zuko imagine #avatar the last airbender one shot

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my-bated-breath · 4 years

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Rage, Compassion, and the Bridge in Between

An essay on Katara’s emotions

On the spectrum of human emotion, rage and compassion exist on opposite ends. After all, rage is harsh and violent while compassion is soothing and nurturing; rage is unforgiving while compassion is all-forgiving. As such, they run a parallel course to each other, one canceling out the other whenever they do meet.

At least, that’s what we expect. We expect anger and kindness to be separate entities, and our media reflects this - a character is either severe or gentle, and in the rare case that they’re both, the contrast between their ability to hurt and their ability to heal is treated as a dichotomy. Except the human condition is not that simple, and sometimes, there is a not-so-simple story that remembers that.

In Avatar: The Last Airbender, Katara embodies the human condition - or more specifically, she embodies the duality within it. Throughout the show, her tenderness and her wrath are balanced in a way that renders her one of the most well-written female characters in children’s animation, perhaps even in all of television. Because Katara’s anger and compassion do not simply split themselves into two identities. Instead, they coexist and coalesce into one. They drive each other; they feed into each other; they are two sides of the same coin.

But how can that be true when opposite traits are supposed to clash and counter each other’s effects?

There’s no denying that at times, Katara’s anger and compassion serve to show two different sides of her. We even see this within the very first episode:

(on left) Katara: No that's it! I'm done helping you! From now on, you're on your own!

(on right) Katara: He's alive! We have to help!

At first, Katara’s irritation towards Sokka is what causes her to accidentally waterbend the iceberg open, in which the transcript describes her movements as “agitated.” However, as soon as she sees Aang, this irritation is replaced by concern for “the boy in the iceberg.” Hence, within a few minutes, we see how Katara can be motivated by compassion and rage separately.

Still, just because her kindness and anger are shown to be separate in many scenes that this separation applies to every scenario. Although Katara’s two opposite traits are opposite, that does not mean they are always opposing. Instead, they can fuel each other - her rage can fuel her compassion, and her compassion can fuel her rage.

Let’s see how.

Part 1 - Katara’s Rage Fuels Her Compassion

Throughout the series, Katara shares her grief over her mother’s death as a way to sympathize with others. In “The Southern Air Temple,” “Imprisoned,” and “Jet,” Katara tells Aang, Haru, and Jet about the effect the Fire Nation raids had on her, which establishes some of the most emotionally-charged scenes in these episodes. She is at her most vulnerable during these moments, laying bare a deep-rooted trauma in order to reach out and connect with someone else.

Dialogue from The Southern Air Temple

Katara: Aang, before we get to the temple, I want to talk to you about the airbenders.

Aang: What about 'em?

Katara: Well, I just want you to be prepared for what you might see. The Fire Nation is ruthless. They killed my mother, and they could have done the same to your people.

Dialogue from Imprisoned

Haru: Yeah. Problem is... the only way I can feel close to my father now is when I practice my bending. He taught me everything I know.

Katara: See this necklace? My mother gave it to me.

Haru: It's beautiful.

Katara: I lost my mother in a Fire Nation raid. This necklace is all I have left of her.

Haru: It's not enough, is it?

Katara: No.

Dialogue from Jet

Jet: The Fire Nation killed my parents. I was only eight years old. That day changed me forever.

Katara: Sokka and I lost our mother to the Fire Nation.

Jet: I'm so sorry, Katara.

However, these moments seem to distinctly lack any hint of anger from Katara’s end, so it may seem irrelevant to mention them here - that is, until we remember Katara had mentioned her mother one more time. Trapped in the Crystal Catacombs with a former enemy, she once again says that the Fire Nation took her mother away from her - but this time not with sympathy. No, this time she is filled with rage.

Dialogue from The Crossroads of Destiny

Zuko: You don't know what you're talking about!

Katara: I don't? How dare you! You have no idea what this war has put me through! Me personally! The Fire Nation took my mother away from me.

As Katara sits down, tears forming in her eyes, it becomes clear that her grief has festered into bitterness and anger towards the Fire Nation. By now, her grief is her anger, and so it’s not just shared pain Katara is empathizing within all four of these scenarios - it’s also shared rage.

She is gentle with Aang because she knows the effects of loss (inducing the Avatar State); she is sympathetic with Haru because she knows what she would be driven to do to have her mother back (inciting a prison break by stirring the prisoners’ righteous anger); and she is moved by Jet’s dedication to the Freedom Fighters because she would fight for the Southern Water Tribe too (against the Fire Nation, although Jet’s rage blinds him in a way that Katara’s doesn’t).

Then, in the Crystal Catacombs, it’s Katara’s anger towards the Fire Nation that uncovers her hidden pain. Her vulnerability is what causes Zuko’s words (“That’s what we have in common”) to resonate with her so much, enough for her to offer to heal his scar.

Therefore, Katara’s relationship with anger and grief (whether it’s emotionally-driven similar to how Aang enters the Avatar state or self-righteous similar to her calling the earthbender prisoners to action) is the foundation for some of her most compassionate moments in the series.

Part 2 - Katara’s Compassion Fuels Her Rage

Just as some of her most sympathetic moments are rooted in understanding someone else’s rage, many of Katara’s harshest moments see her acting on the behalf of others’ pain and needs.

As the designated “mother” of the Gaang, the Gaang’s more silly and immature antics often aggravate her and cause her to reprimand them severely, a clash that features prominently in Katara and Toph’s relationship.

In “The Chase” and “The Runaway,” Katara shouts at Toph for lacking a sense of responsibility. However, her indignation does not simply stem from taking personal defense, but from wanting to safeguard the family she has found in the Gaang. Then, both these times, Toph learns the true motives behind Katara’s overbearing actions through a conversation with Iroh and Sokka, respectively.

Dialogue from The Chase

Toph: People see me and think I'm weak. They want to take care of me, but I can take care of myself, by myself.

Iroh: You sound like my nephew, always thinking you need to do things on your own, without anyone's support. There is nothing wrong with letting the people who love you help you.

When Toph talks with Iroh in “The Chase,” Iroh imparts some wisdom on finding mutual support in friendship, implying that Katara pushing responsibilities onto Toph is her way of solidifying and upholding the loving and supportive dynamic within the Gaang.

Dialogue from The Runaway

Sokka: I'm gonna tell you something crazy. I never told anyone this before, but honestly? I'm not sure I can remember what my mother looked like. It really seems like my whole life, Katara's been the one looking out for me. She's always been the one that's there. And now, when I try to remember my mom, Katara's is the only face I can picture.

Toph: The truth is sometimes Katara does act motherly, but that's not always a bad thing. She's compassionate and kind, and she actually cares about me. You know, the real me. That's more than my own mom.

As the dialogue states, “Katara’s been the one looking out for [them].” Hence, her mothering tendencies towards Toph in “The Runaway” are evoked by her wanting to avoid the danger that Toph’s high-profile scamming is beginning to place them in. In other words, she simply wants to protect her makeshift family because “she actually cares about [Toph and the rest of the Gaang]. You know, the real [them].”

Katara’s ability to empathize with others, to see past facades and prejudices, is one of her defining traits. Earlier, in the episode “The Painted Lady,” Katara manages to see beyond the people of Jang Hui’s Fire Nation background and recognize that above all else, they are suffering from war and poverty. Consequently, they are people who need her.

As such, even the notion of abandoning the people of Jang Hui (as suggested by Sokka) enrages her because Katara is someone who “will never, ever turn my back on people who need [her]!”

Still, Katara’s desire to fight for a village of strangers cannot compare to the lengths she would take to protect Aang.

Dialogue from The Western Air Temple

Katara: You might have everyone else here buying your… transformation, but you and I both know you've struggled with doing the right thing in the past. So let me tell you something, right now. You make one step backward, one slip-up, give me one reason to think you might hurt Aang, and you won't have to worry about your destiny anymore. Because I'll make sure your destiny ends ... right then and there. Permanently.

While Zuko was a bystander as Azula shot lightning at Aang, he was an active participant in his fight against Katara, whom, just moments ago, he shared an incredibly intimate moment with. But despite how Zuko betrayed Katara personally, it is the impact his betrayal had on Aang’s life (and death) that she focuses on. So even at her most threatening, Katara acts to protect someone else, Aang, the boy who is her friend and her family.

Together, all these instances reveal that Katara’s compassion is what grants her a protective instinct, and her protective instinct is what moves her to anger and violence.

Conclusion

Katara’s character provides invaluable insight into the relationship between compassion and rage, revealing how it is not simply black contrasting white, but a spread of grays and contradictions. After all, that is who Katara is. She is two sides of the same coin and the bridge in between.

Even more, that is the human condition - full of grays and contradictions, simultaneously negating and reciprocating, balancing and tipping the scales all at once. And perhaps human emotion, in all its breadth, cannot be contained to a two-dimensional spectrum where emotions can either be placed close together or on opposite ends - because humanity is of infinite dimensions, constructed from science, dictated by art. And yet, somehow it is a two-dimensional animated character who captures human complexity with such ease.

#atla #atla meta #katara #katara meta #my bated breath analyzes #my bated breath's posts #that's not to say that katara's anger cannot exist without compassion #nor her compassion without anger #but it's not mutually exclusive either #on a separate note i have more metas on katara written #so you can watch out for that #likes and reblogs are always appreciated #thank you all for reading!

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theotherace · 3 years

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Fic Recs: Taang

I’ve made two or three rec lists over the past few months, but I thought I’d make a proper, comprehensive one that’s easy to add to in the future. Not all of these are exclusively Taang, but they all feature the ship to some degree. I will only recommend one or two stories per author, but some profiles are definitely worth checking out further. So! Here goes.

Multi-Chapter, Complete

Whisper Into the Sky by damagectrl – Toph has two choices: Go home and get married or have the family fortune and her inheritance given to a stranger. Her problem: She wants to keep her ties to her family, but is quite content traveling with Aang. Her solution: Fight her way through suitors for her freedom. Literally. | General

The Slow Path by Tazmainian Devil – Eight years after the fall of Ozai, Aang returns to the friends he left behind. | T

A Matter of Honor by Adridere – Almost 4 years after the war. Aang is engaged to Katara and is up to Zuko to teach him the facts of life. Yep, the bees and the birds. Crazy kings, bananas and the ultimate contest for the hand of a reluctant maiden. | M

Roommates by breeeliss – An unlikely tale of two unlikely people being forced to live together under unlikely circumstances.| Modern AU | T

Fall of the White Lotus by Boo-82 – Three years after the war Zuko is living a life of duty while Katara reluctantly travels the world with Aang. So, when General Iroh orders them to find Zuko’s mother and save his Order they seize the opportunity with both hands. It’s the beginning of an adventurous journey of discovery, but as time runs out a rising threat puts their bond to the test. | T

Half Asleep by The Crushinator – Five years after the Hundred-Year War, Fire Lord Zuko is hit with an assassin’s dart, and falls into a coma from which he cannot wake. A week passes, and his prognosis is grim. But Katara could swear she hears him in her dreams… | T

Yaaburnee by aviatordame – Avatars aren't meant to belong – that's as much as Aang can fathom. | M

Getting Lucky by roca-dos – Crazy things happen in college every day. | Modern AU | T

All Fall Down by DJNS – Aang copes with a tragic loss and finds renewed hope in an unexpected place. | M | Warning for Major Character Death

The Princess & the Badger-Cat by panaili – In a land never torn apart by the Hundred Year War, the sixteen-year-old Avatar Aang is trying his best to keep the balance between the four nations, including the increasingly antagonistic Fire Nation, which, despite his friendship with the Crown Prince Zuko, refuses to acknowledge him. Elsewhere, Sokka and Katara have been separated on their quest to find their missing father, and Sokka, pursued by the same bandits who kidnapped his sister, finds himself on the balcony of some rich girl’s house in Gaoling. Oh, and a sorcerer has turned him into a badger-cat. It’s just one of those days. | Teen and Up

Reborn by Jakia – Life. Death. Rebirth. This is the cycle that all spirits must abide to, even the Avatar. Aang and Toph face death and the reincarnation cycle. | T

New Girl by tiffaniesblews – After coming home early from a business trip, all Katara wanted to do was surprise her boyfriend, Jet. Imagine her surprise when she got home and Jet was in bed with another woman. Not wanting to live with her ex, and unable to live with her best friend, Suki, Katara takes her brother Sokka's offer to move into his loft with his two roommates. Aang is perky and sweet, the owner of a st. Bernard and a cat, who's often confused about his direction in life. Zuko, on the other hand, is a closed-off bartender, who takes some time opening up to others.The four could not be more different, and yet? They work out perfectly. Even if Katara's feelings for Zuko get a bit more complicated as time goes on. | Modern AU | Mature

The Ties That Bind series by LdyKirin – An exploration of the ties that bind for good and ill. Toph and Zuko are both shaped by the family they were born to and the family they choose. Lots of found family feels. | T

What Happens In Kyoshi by BlackVelvetBand – Prince Zuko, and the GAang take a vacation on Kyoshi Island. Flirting, fighting, and embarrasment ensue as Sokka takes it upon himself to defend Katara's virtue...in a dress? A short,chaptered fic featuring Zutara, Sokki, and Taang. | T

Under the Night Sky by mycomfortblanket – Aang hears the chattering of teeth during a cold night. Was an AU that I found on tumblr that I made fit into this story. Orginal prompt: "We have to go camping together and share a sleeping bag even though we are complete strangers | General

On The Precipice by JoyDragon – They’re just best friends. Or maybe they’re teetering on the edge of being something more. | General

Oneshots, Complete

Air and Stone by Wolvenfire86 – A few Taang stories munched together. My first submissions. I hope everyone likes them. Please review, it makes me feel special. | K+

Taang Week 2020 series by teabagginses | Teen and Up & Mature

Our Little Secret by IrisPlumeria – Toph and Aang, sat next to one another dressed in their finest under paper lanterns and surrounded by copious amounts of food and friends, cringed at the disgusting noises coming out of Sokka’s nostrils as he blew his nose into Suki’s handkerchief. “I can’t believe two of my best friends are finally married!” Sokka sobbed, earning a supportive pat on the back from Suki, who didn’t flinch at the snot coming out of his nose. “I’m so happy for you guys!” Toph and Aang's family are happy for their nuptials, but will they be able to survive their wedding party without letting slip a big secret?Written for Taang Week 2020 - Tradition. | General

All Roads Lead To Ba Sing Se by irisbleufic – "I was thinking," [Mai] said, tucking her last remaining dagger into her belt as she strode to meet him, "that it's about time I let Fire Lord Zuko know that I quit." When Kuei smiled at her, she could see the sunshine at which she once cringed."Notice that's six years overdue is better than none at all." "Indeed," said the Earth Queen, and grinned at him. | Teen And Up

Lady Fu’s Fortune Telling by Lady Cleo – Katara and Toph visit the local fortuneteller to get their fortunes told. Added a part two with Zuko and Aang. | T

The Perfect Companion by Morna – Aang seeks comfort outside of the arms of his wife, Katara. Taang, slightly lemony. | T

Box by JoeMerl – Written for Taang Week, one-shot. Toph ticks off Bumi, but Aang is willing to fight his old friend tooth and nail to get her out of trouble. Humor, light romance. | K+

2 am by shmulia – Whoever set off the fire alarm at 2 in the morning is on Katara's shit list. Even if he is hot and shirtless. | Modern AU | K

And its sequel, 11:45 – House parties aren't Katara's thing. Sokka's drunk, Suki's on a mission to set her up, and Toph is... well, Toph. But for every cloud there's a silver lining, and for Katara it comes in the form of a second chance with her neighbour... | Modern AU | T

Treat by PsychEmpress – She felt the corners of her own lips quirk as he sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. “Consider this my treat,” he said and Toph allowed a smile to break out. OR In which Toph is a stressed architecture student who gets a free cup of coffee from the handsome waiter after she helps his friend. Taang. Mentions of Sukka. | Modern AU | T

Sawaru by metacognitive – This love is simple. Non-Korra compliant. | K+

Newlyweds (and basically everything else) by PandaCookie – Everyone’s a bit hopeless right after they’ve been married. | K+

Rhythms by xcgirl08– For now, though, her child’s heartbeat was hers to contemplate. | K

Tenderness by Adridere – He wanted to keep her, even though he was not supposed to. He promised her freedom, and she promised him sanity in his own household. She kept her part of the bargain, but he found a way not to keep his. | M

Holy Matrimony by Loopy – After their marriage, Zuko and Katara deal with conflicting religious beliefs, and look to the friends for advice. Between the Zutara and the religious satire, every single person who reads this should feel offended. | General

Blind Maiden’s Grace by Adara_Rose – You can learn a lot of things from a flower… | Not Rated (I’d say General)

Etched in the Earth by Dance_Elle_Dance – She knows the feel of Aang’s footprints better than her own, and that reality scares her. | Teen and Up

No One Asks About The Scars by voleuse – Write about how you learned to curse in order not to be cursed. | General

When in Rome by dtmars – She wasn’t stupid. She knew what she was doing and what she was getting herself into. They both did. | Modern AU. | Explicit

Like Real People Do by DerAndere – The moon is full and bright when he falls out of bed, awake, asleep, inside a dream, and starts walking, driven by the feeling he does not understand, tugging on him relentlessly, and he is Aang, and he is not, and the world is cold. | General | Full Disclosure: This is my story.

Meet Me Under The Table by avatarfan16 – A story of how Toph and Aang find love, in the most unusual of places. TAANG | K+

Aftermath by Zaram'delar – In any celebration, there's always one or two people with a habit of disappearing. Taang drabbleish series. | T

I Choose Dare by for_darkness_shows_the_stars – An ode to how Aang, under the power of a mighty temptress, was forced to grow a beard. Oh, and the birth of his first child, too, he supposes. | General Audiences

Multi-Chapter, In Progress

Heartbeat by AngelicBee – Avatar Aang's soulmate probably died 100 years before, but he can't help but feel she's closer than he thinks. | Teen and Up

a mighty ocean (or a gentle kiss) by poweradequeen – no, the title doesn’t make sense but i don’t care. i couldn’t think of one so now you’re stuck with a cheesy line from two by sleeping at last.it’s a taang fine arts university au. because i said so. | Teen and Up

Neither is Love a Cage by cali-chan – Love is the freedom of flying accompanied. It is letting be without possessing. PG-13 (possibly M later on), drama/romance/angst, Zuko/Katara + Aang/Toph, post-finale but diverges before LoK canon.

Operation: Zutara (REVAMPED) by dtmars – Everyone could see that those two were in love with each other. Everyone except for them. So Toph takes the initiative and fills in for Cupid to give them a little push, while Aang just tags along for the ride. | Teen and Up

Taang One Shots by stitch1830 – A collection of short stories about Toph and Aang that I've had saved in my notes for a few months. Stories are in the ATLA/LOK universe (not canon compliant), and typically revolve around their relationship and family. | Teen and Up

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sokkastyles · 4 years

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Because I’ve seen lots of meta on Zuko’s scar and what it means, and also seen some analysis that has the scar representing Zuko’s “bad” or villainous side, here’s some images where I would argue that the scar takes on a positive meaning.

I've always had to struggle and fight and that's made me strong. It's made me who I am.

While this is book 1 Zuko being...book 1 Zuko, and not a particularly sympathetic moment since he has Aang captured, it’s also a scene where we get a key insight into Zuko’s character and how he sees himself. Zuko has had to fight to survive, and as he says this we get a good shot of his bruised-up face, but of course the scar is the most prominent injury, large and a central part of the frame. The scar is an obvious representation of Zuko’s trauma, the biggest physical manifestation of his struggles, but instead of struggle being a bad thing here, Zuko embraces it as part of his identity. Yeah, he’s using it to justify some very unheroic actions, but what he says here helps to make him sympathetic to the audience, to humanize him, and it’s also something that allows for the opportunity for growth. Zuko’s view of himself as a survivor, someone who fights, will keep him going through his journey and into his redemption. Forming an identity based on struggling and surviving made Zuko strong because in the end, it allowed him to grow into the best version of himself, and to see that he could turn his life around and survive rather than giving in to despair and hatred or feeling sorry for himself, and that’s a great disability-friendly message. Rather than marking him as evil or pitiable, his scars mark him as strong and as a survivor.

I’ve seen this one talked about in a very negative context. Here Azula is lying to Zuko in order to lure him into a trap, and he does end up believing it, but you can see the doubt and indecision on his face. In the above still the focus is on Azula, and then when she leaves the focus shifts to a clear shot of Zuko’s scarred side.

This is actually almost an identical image to the one in “The Siege of the North,” with a close up on Zuko’s left side, the scar very noticeable in the frame, and Zuko with his head slightly bowed and his eyes closed, mouth tilted into a frown. He looks deep in thought. I’ve seen people say that the scar here represents his trauma and desperate desire to get back home, which blinds him to the truth of the situation, and that is true, but I’d also say that the scar itself is representative of the truth, which is plain to the audience as it is written on Zuko’s face. Zuko may not be able to see it clearly but we, the viewers, are in a privileged position, able to see the reality.

Actually a LOT of the scenes with Azula follow this pattern, because Azula often represents to Zuko the lie that he can regain what he’s lost if only he tries hard enough. The beauty of the scar’s symbolism is that while Zuko often views it as a mark of shame, it is so clearly not Zuko’s fault, but a mark of Ozai’s, and by extension the Fire Nation’s, cruelty even towards his son. Therefore it’s an easy visual way for the show to tell us that we can’t trust Azula or Ozai.

Notice also that in the above scene Azula is on the right, while Zuko is on the left side of the frame while the shot focuses on the left side of his face.

This is replicated in the fever dream Zuko has in “The Earth King,” with Azula, represented by the blue dragon, on the right, and Iroh, represented by the red dragon, on his left side.

The shot focuses on the left side of Zuko’s face in the left side of the frame, but this time Zuko doesn’t have a scar. This is a vision of what could be, and what can never be. Here the absence of the scar represents lies and danger. When Zuko wakes up from his fever, the first thing he does is touch his scar to make sure that he is still himself.

We also see Zuko laying on his right side, with the scarred side visible, while Iroh tenderly touches the scarred side of his face.

You are going through a metamorphosis, my nephew. It will not be a pleasant experience, but when you come out of it, you will be the beautiful prince you were always meant to be.

Just like in “The Siege of the North,” the focus here is on struggle, a metamorphosis, a word that emphasizes change, but not without hardship. However, Iroh emphasizes that this is a good change, and that, in contrast to the sinister dream Zuko has of being on the fire throne but without the scar, when he wakes up he will be the prince that he was “meant to be.”

Then, of course, a few episodes later, in the book 2 finale, we have another scene of someone touching Zuko’s scar for healing purposes.

Again we have the shot of Zuko, head tilted down, eyes closed, the scar centered in the frame, but this time the scar is a point of empathy between him and Katara.

It’s not so much the healing that is important here - because the physical scar wasn’t what needed to be healed - but the empathy, and Zuko’s realization that, not only are other people hurting, too, but that his scar does not determine his destiny.

I used to think this scar marked me. The mark of the banished prince, cursed to chase the Avatar forever. But lately, I've realized I'm free to determine my own destiny, even if I'll never be free of my mark.

There’s a lot of focus on Zuko’s scar in the caves. But probably the most prominent is these two shots in succession:

This is a really effective scene because it almost looks like two different people. The unscarred profile looks determined, while the scarred profile image looks sad and mournful.

And I’ve seen interpretations of this scene as having the unscarred side representing the right choice, and the scarred side as representing the wrong. However, I’ve previously established that right and unscarred are associated with Azula, whereas left and scarred are associated with Katara and Iroh, so why then would the scarred side represent the bad choice? I’d argue that it’s the opposite, and that the unscarred side represents Zuko’s desire to go back to the Fire Nation, to do anything to gain his father’s love and his honor, to go back to the way things were before his scarring. On the left side, however, is truth, that things can never go back to the way they were, and that Zuko shouldn’t want them to.

And the very last close up of Zuko’s face is one of my favorites:

Just the happiness and contentment, and ease with himself in this scene. This isn’t “Fire Lord Zuko” or “heroic Zuko” or even “my father’s in jail and I’m gonna make him tell me where my mom is” Zuko, it’s the last scene in the series and it’s such a quiet, peaceful moment. A moment of humility and service to others, but no longer shameful or full of hardship. Of course Zuko will have to struggle as the new Fire Lord, and he’ll always bear the scars of his struggle on his face, but he doesn’t have to be ashamed of it anymore. There’s a nice symmetry when you compare this to the first shot I mentioned up above, in the book one finale, which has Zuko alone and trapped in a cave surrounded by a blizzard, whereas here, he is surrounded by friends and at peace.

#zuko #zuko's scar #atla meta #and he didn't need to be cured!#the witcher take note

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gloves94 · 4 years

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Kingdom of the Sun [Fire Lord Zuko] 2

Chapter Warnings: Steamy smut, thigh grinding, cursing Rating: M Pairings: Zuko/OC - I have written a NSFW tollbooth so you can skip that part if you want :) Kingdom of the Sun MASTERLIST Last Airbender MASTERLIST My MASTERLIST

The air grew colder and dryer as a large metal trade ship approached the Southern Water Tribe, sailing through dark waters and dodging every odd iceberg and glacier on the way.

Tsai hugged her body closer gripping the fabric of her beige parka, she brought her cold palms into her mouth and breathed into them. Her breath visible before her eyes in white puffs.

Her brother had encouraged her to come to this ceremony. Her mother had strongly opposed against it.

“Tsai, I have repeatedly told you over and over again,” Her mother warned. “Mom I’m going, no matter what you say-“ “It’s not about the boy- it’s not about him…” Her mother sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration. “But you have to understand that it is not safe. Is it not enough to wake up to riots and protesting? Tsai someone could hurt try and hurt you and by hurt you I mean kill.” Her mother had almost begged her not to go. However, the guilt trip was not enough. She had promised to keep a small profile to give her mother some peace of mind and took a small ship with a matching crew of less than ten people.

Despite never having been to the Southern Water Tribe the nation was similar to its northern sister, the ice desert seeming just as cold, yet not as desolate the bay crowded with numerous ships that were docked in from different parts of the world. It was almost nighttime when she arrived. Just in time for the celebration.

Despite having spent most of the trip self-consciously analyzing her imperfections in a mirror and nervously doing her hair over and over again, it was quite never perfect. She hesitated before getting off the ship, unsure if she would run into her ex-boyfriend or not, yet the nervousness still lingered, uneasily twisting her stomach into knots.

She had a feeling she would see him. She’d never admit it out loud, but she had in part come in hopes of running into him.

The party was lively and filled with plenty of familiar faces from all corners of the world. Pleasant ambiance music was being played. The celebration was being hosted outdoors in a snowy plaza covered under a massive tarp from which colorful lights and decorations hung down from. It was a beautiful set up. Very beach, wonderland wedding vibes. The plaza was near an icy ledge which allowed guests to a lovely view of the horizon. She glanced around the crowd and saw no sign of Zuko. Sighing, almost in relief, she walked around looking for the newly engaged couple to congratulate them. It took a while before she spotted them standing with some other members of the Water Tribe.

“Tsai! You made it!” Aang said excitedly embracing his friend. Katara also hugged her and introduced her to Kanna, her grandmother and her husband, a waterbending master, whom Tsai was already acquainted with, Master Pakku.

“Welcome to the Southern Water Tribe,” Chief Hakoda, Katara and Sokka’s father, said welcoming her to their land. “Hope it’s not too cold,” he added with a slight smile noticing how the girl kept her cold hands hidden inside of her parka’s sleeves.

“It’s bearable,” She said with a tight smile. “You’ll get used to it. Just stay away from the water. If for whatever reason you fall, you’ll go into hypothermic shock and be dead within minutes.”

‘Geez, well that’s comforting…’

“How was your trip?” Katara asked. “No assassination attempts or bombings so I guess you could say successful. I’m just happy to be here.” She laughed nervously.

“Tsai, there was something else that we wanted to ask you,” Katara began and exchanged a look with her fiancée. “It’s just that, well, when we visited you last time. We fell in love with the palace and we were wondering if we could have the wedding in the former Colonial Palace?” “We also think it would be safer. Considering the political climate…” Aang added.

The girl from Yu Dao blinked twice in surprised. They had a point it would be safer; the palace was basically impenetrable. She couldn’t decide if her mother would have a stroke or would be thrilled to having a wedding there.

However, how could she say no?

“We understand if you can’t or don’t want to-“

“No,” she said quickly. “I mean- yes. Yes! Of course, you can have it there! Aang’s right, it would be safer. Whenever you want.” She smiled at both of them.

Again, Katara threw her arms around her hugging her tightly. Who would’ve thought the two would grow to be so amiable considering the turmoil the two had had in the past.

“Hey Zuko!”

Her eyes shot wide open in panic as she saw Aang waving at someone behind her. She swallowed a heavy lump that had formed in her throat and exchanged a panicked look with Katara who nodded her head to the side. Tsai very indiscreetly ran away from the approaching Fire Lord and from her friends approaching the bar for some plum wine a delicacy around these parts. Carefully, hoping not to be noticed, she darted her eyes back to where the Fire Lord was now standing chatting with Aang and Katara. He looked absolutely regal, he was taller, impossibly more handsome than the last time she had seen him. His black hair was longer, worn in a half top knot Fire Nation fashion. He wore his royal head piece and he carried himself well as a nation’s leader should. He stood out like a sore thumb how was it that she hadn’t spotted him in the crowds? She was lost in thought when he suddenly turned, and his eyes met hers.

She almost spilled her wine when she rapidly turned back to face the bar. Face burning from the embarrassment of having been caught starring so boldly.

“Hiding from someone?” She felt a nudge on her side.

She turned to see Suki standing next to her also leaning on the bar. “Suki!” She greeted almost tackling her friend into a hug.

Suki explained that she was here as a guest and also an undercover along with Ty Lee. Both were keeping an eye on the Fire Lord as his personal bodyguards in case there were any assassination attempts. Years ago, Tsai had suggested to Zuko that he hire the Kyoshi Warriors as his personal guards since the Fire Nation’s were practically useless. Seemed like he actually took her advice. “He’s lonely,” Suki said as both girls walked away from the bar with their drinks. “He misses you. Do you miss him?”

Tsai lowered her eyes and took a distraught sip from her wine. Of course, she missed him. How could she not? She thought about him on the daily. “Yeah,” She admitted. “But I’ve been seeing other people. Or at least trying too… Do you know how hard it is to date when the Fire Lord is your ex-boyfriend?” She half rolled her eyes. Suki laughed. “Well, are you going to talk to him?”

“No!” Tsai responded a little louder than intended as panic filled her. “What would I even say?”

“What would you even say to who?” A manly voice asked loudly.

“Sokka!” She turned and gave her old friend a half hug. Tsai was about to ask Sokka a question when Suki interrupted with a sharp whisper. “Tsai, he’s coming,” She hissed lowly not breaking eye contact with her friend.

‘Fuck… fuck… fuck!’ How obvious would it be if she untangled herself from Sokka’s arm and made a run for it? She wondered if she could manage dodging him all night. She had to put herself together. Act normal. Stand up straighter, maybe a little taller. “What do I do? What do I do?!” She asked panicking shifting uneasily on her feet fidgeting with the sun stone necklace she always wore around her neck. “Pretend like Sokka just said something funny!” Suki whispered. Sokka looked beyond confused. When both girls threw their heads slightly and let out a loud laugh.

“Hey Suki-“ Zuko said as he approached the trio with that looked to be a pretend excuse. Despite speaking to the Kyoshi Warrior his golden eyes were locked in on his ex-girlfriend’s. Hers were noticeably fixed on him as well. A familiar tension suddenly becoming evident between the couple. Sokka removed his arm from his friend’s shoulders. She didn’t hear what he said to Suki. Much too struck by his presence, it was almost like seeing a ghost. She looked at his high cheek bones, his sharp jaw, even the scar on his face made him more enticing. His lips…

‘Oh no…’

She swallowed the wine she was drinking with a loud gulp.

‘He was hot.’ “You know, I always thought it would be you two first,” Sokka said bluntly referring to the marriage. She snapped her out of her trance. ‘Great. Way to add salt to the wound Sokka.’ She almost spit out her wine, slightly choking on it. The expression on his face unreadable as she avoided his eyes. She didn’t want to think about that. The last time they had touched the subject had been the day they broke up, it was a painful enough memory…

“Ty Lee needs you to untangle her braid,” Zuko said to his bodyguard in a serious tone.

“Sounds serious,” Suki said in a faltering tone. She made eye contact with her friend who lightly nodded as she was keeping her lips busy still sipping on the wine. “Come help me Sokka,” she said to her boyfriend. “But she’s right there! She’s fine!” Sokka pointed out dumbly. Girls were an enigma he’d never be able to figure out. Suki hissed at him to shut up and dragged him away leaving the ex-lovers alone and to themselves. There was a heavy awkward silence between them. The heavy tension seemed to linger. They hadn’t been in the same room in years. She couldn’t help but wonder just how much he had changed. Hell, how much she had changed. ‘Say something, say something, say something,’ she racked her brain for anything she could say or ask to him. ‘SAY ANYTHING.’ “Nice weather we’re having.”

Oh dear, he was still so painfully awkward. She couldn’t help but laugh a little at his comment. Something so simple which lightly eased the growing tension between the two. “Are you kidding? It’s awful,” she said glancing around at the icy tundra. “Everything is wet and cold and covered in snow. I wonder how Toph can walk around barefoot like that,” she responded her eyes drifting to the blind girl in the crowd. The thought of being barefoot in the snow made her feel even colder. “Well, it’s Toph. She’s tough you know?”

Again. That uncomfortable silence between the two.

Should she ask how he has been? How his mother and sister have been? Should they talk about something other than the New Ozai Society or the Anti-Revolutionary Movement? Maybe the fact that he gave her half of his lands?

But that was a story for another time… “So Aang and Katara huh?” She managed. “Yeah.” “They’re really cute. I’m happy for them.” “Yeah, same,” he said nervously holding the back of his neck. “They’re so cute- it’s kind of gross?” He gave her an odd look. “I mean they call each other sweetie,” She cringed and downed the rest of her drink seeking for some liquid courage. “I mean, we-we were never that corny.” She said addressing the elephant in the room.

This was really not going well. “Yeah,” seemed to be the only word of agreeance he could manage. He let out a weak scoff. “Never.” Both looked away awkwardly. Just in time, as it became night and the sky darkened the party progressed the music’s beat changed and they both noted how the people in the crowd started moving in unison either in groups or in couples. Swaying to an upbeat tune. “What are they doing?” He asked confused. “I think they are… dancing?” She responded just as confused.

Both being Fire Nationers the concept of dancing was completely foreign to them. The art of it had been outlawed for the past one hundred years, both never having witnessed or partaken in the activity. Everybody looked happy dancing, lightly swaying holding each other at a close distance. He looked at her from the corner of his eyes working up the courage to ask her to dance. Maybe it had been years, but the spark was still there, hidden, but he knew it, he could feel it and she looked- just wow…

“Uh, I don’t know how to.”

Zuko snapped out of his daydream to see that guy from the Earth Kingdom, what was his name been, Haru, asking her to dance. “That’s okay. I’ll teach you!” He said encouragingly stretching out his hand to her. She looked at it hesitantly, but he didn’t give her a moment to think it over. “Come on,” he grinned grabbing her hand and dragging her away to dance to an upbeat cheery dance that involved a lot of twirling.

Tsai looked back at Zuko’s who’s eyes had narrowed as he glared daggers at the back of Haru’s head. He glowered with his arms crossed over his chest starring with jealousy as the two danced, even if she was stepping on Haru’s feet the whole time.

“Ty Lee!” Zuko barked at his other bodyguard. Meanwhile said girl was busy flirting with some Water Tribe boys and turned to give her boss an irritated look. “Let’s dance,” he commanded grabbing her hand and pulling her to the dance floor not even giving her a chance to say no.

At first, he moved awkwardly unsure of where to put his hands or how to move his feet. Ty Lee, however, was more graceful; all eyes were on the acrobat as the music continued getting louder and faster. The dance shifted into some type of traditional Water Tribe dance where everybody danced in a circle spinning their partners into the arms of others.

Tsai continued stepping on Haru, profusely apologizing. She felt awful about it. Regardless he was nice and continued dancing, giving her a twirl and a spin, letting her go for a moment. Sokka caught her and did the same, as it seemed part of the dance was switching partners. He did the same and twirled her to Aang who twirled her to- “Y-You’re supposed to twirl me!” She protested with a nervous stammer to Zuko who was now holding her at an arm’s length. However instead of twirling her he was greedy and kept her away all to himself. She felt vulnerable under the intense way his eyes were locked on her face. Her face felt warm.

“Oh, I guess I forgot,” He said sheepishly letting her go. The song was over, and people stopped dancing. People around clapped and the band suddenly began to play a slower tune. Both looked around and saw couples starting to get together and sway to the slow music. She looked away from him and began to walk away when she felt she was being held back. She looked back and saw his hand holding hers. “Dance with me.” It wasn’t a request. It didn’t sound like he was asking either. She scoffed a little at his sudden demanding nature. Yeah- right. What would he do if she refused?

“You don’t even know how to,” she couldn’t help but laugh at his demand. He arched an eyebrow giving her a meaningful look. She sighed and joined him. After all, what was one dance right? She held him at arm’s length a hand on his shoulder the other in his. His other hand snaking around her waist and resting on her lower back. She swallowed nervously when he pulled her to him completely pressing his body against hers.

Why was he so warm? Why did he smell so good? Why did her heart pace quicken like that? “See? Easy?” He said as they danced right before stepping on her. “Right,” she said in a strained voice, wincing slightly at the pain. He mumbled a painful apology and despite the ache she couldn’t help but laugh a little. She looked up from her feet and saw the way he was looking at her and she couldn’t help but melt in his arms. And just like that. It was almost as if no time had passed in between the two of them. She relaxed, smiling a little, returning the endearing look. She sighed before resting her head on his shoulder. She missed him. She missed him so, so, much. His expression mirrored hers as he let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding. “Tsai, I’m ready,” he suddenly said. “For what?” She asked perplexed, continuing to lightly sway against his body, barely lifting her feet off the ground hoping not to step on him. “For the next step,” he said decisively. “As long as you don’t step on me again,” she sniggered playfully. “I’m serious,” she saw his lips were drawn into a sober thin line. “I’m ready to take out relationship to the next step.” She swore she could hear a needle scratch on a record somewhere in a loud sound in her head that made her snap out of her daze.

“Our relationship?” She pulled away looking at him startled. “We don’t have a relationship.” She was about to let go. She was about to run away and hide in the crowd, but he held her in place. “Tsai, look at me,” he spoke in a low tone holding her closer. “Look at me and tell me you don’t feel it.” She struggled but met his warm, honey colored eyes. Her eyes moved down to his lips which suddenly looked extremly inviting. She wanted to kiss him, she wanted to do it right here, right now. Yet- she remained silent, slightly shaking her head attempting to pull away from his touch. She couldn’t be with him. They shouldn’t be together. Not when- “Don’t. Run away.” He whispered in her ear, hands firm on her body, planting her on the spot. His hot breath against her skin sent chills down her spine. He pressed his forehead against hers. “It wouldn’t be fair…” She whispered back to him in a voice filled with pain. “I don’t want to make you…” She shook her head again slightly, alluding to one of the main reasons why they had broken up. The song was over and they both pulled apart when they heard clapping. She cleared her throat and joined in on the clapping.

“I need a drink,” she said nervously returning to the bar. What was this her third, maybe fourth drink?

Zuko’s eyes trailed after her, watching from a far. He sighed to himself.

It was then that the ground trembled violently. Some lost their balance collapsing as a massive explosion blew up in the docks erupting in a massive cloud of smoke. Snow going up in the air and falling like hail.

BOOM! There was another explosion and another, dark snow and flames blowing up in the air in the plaza around them. The music stopped. The crowd scattered unsure of where to go.

Tsai looked turning her attention to the plaza where everybody was when she suddenly felt a blade being pressed against her neck from behind. She gasped lightly at the surprise attack and elbowed the figure in the stomach before ducking. She turned to face her assailant, the bar tender, who held two blades one in each hand.

She reached into her sleeves and pulled out a pellet that when cracked against the floor became a smoke bomb. Her attacker coughed and swatted at the fog, she ran opposite of the explosions towards the ledge. The attacker emerged from the smog coughing loudly and ran towards her with his blades up. This time however, she stood her ground and pulled out the two hidden blames she always wore under her sleeves.

“Who sent you?” She demanded to know as both engaged in a knife fight.

Zuko saw Aang, Katara and the rest of the original Avatar group disperse as they divided to check on guests and on the nearby explosions. He turned back and his eyes went wide when he saw the auburn-haired girl under attack.

“I’m going after her!” He said out loud to his bodyguards. “Go with the others! Make sure everyone is okay!” He didn’t hesitate in rushing to her side. He saw her reach for her assailant and drive one of her blades into his torso in a fatal wound. The man bent over in pain, but he held onto her arm as fell back off the ledge dragging her down into the abyss with him.

“No!” Zuko shouted rushing to the edge, he could see the crimson dotted spots of blow staining the snow in a stark contrast. Peering over the ledge he saw nothing but an icy ocean that stretched out for miles ahead. The wind blowing harsher and louder on the edge cliff. In the ice below a dark hole of broken ice from the impact of the crash and fall. He stepped down without caution and slid down the icy slope, running down, almost falling twice. He stepped on the ice which cried in protest to his weight, he removed his long cloak and braced himself for the cold before leaping into the icy, dark waters. The cold didn’t affect him due to his mastery of his fire bending nature. Underwater he could see a dark string of water going up to the surface. It was blood… Looking down he saw the enemy sinking deeper into the ocean, at some distance was Tsai also sinking unconsciously from the terrible shock of the freezing waters which stabbed you like knives. His eyes squinted as he attempted to peer into the dark waters and past the sea salt that itched. It took him a moment to reach her. He held her tight against him and swam up to the surface almost out of breath. He pressed his palms flat on the ice and used his fire bending to break free. He regulated his breathing, spitting out yellow flames, keeping himself warm like his uncle had taught him.

He held her trembling body close, she was silent, remaining mute from the shock of the hypothermia. He picked up his tossed wool cloak and wrapped it around her. Looking up he could see smoke emitting from the top of the cliff. Going up wasn’t safe, it wasn’t a choice. The first priority was getting her warm before the hypothermia or frostbite set in. He spotted a nearby hole in the wall, a possible makeshift cave and took her there. He carried her wrapped in his cloak, she had already been tipsy, which only made matters worse. She was trembling violently, her face was pale, lips were turning blue and her wet hair stuck to her face. Clothes dripping with freezing saltwater. She had a glazed over disoriented look in her eyes and her speech was slurred as a symptom of the shock. He wasn't an expert, but his uncle had once lectured him on the effects of hypothermia and how to avoid it the last time they had been to the north pole. From what he could see she was still conscious and the fact that she was shivering meant that the effects of the hypothermia were thankfully mild. He set her own her feet and she stood wobblily, her knees weak, the disorientation getting the best of her. He saw her stumble and collapse forward barely managing to catch her mid drop. Both falling to their knees. She was soaking, cold to the bone. His thick, wool cloak wasn’t of much use this way. “I have to take off your clothes,” he said reaching for the buttons of her wet parka almost as if waiting for her consent. Agni. It was a life or death situation. “Do it.” She managed to speak through chattering teeth. He undid her clothes quickly removing her parka and bottoms, leaving the poor girl to hug her shaking body only in her undergarments for the sake of modesty. She flinched at the flesh that became exposed to the cold pole’s night air. He was trying his best to be respectful and avert his eyes from her body, but they couldn’t help but wonder. He didn’t waste any time in wrapping the cloak against her completely engulfing her in it. The only thing visible was her face. He pulled her into his dry lap. He leaned back against the icy wall and with fiery breaths warmed his system thoroughly. Heat radiating from his body. She clung to him burrowing deep into his chest desperate for his warm touch, he lightly rubbed her back placing his head on top of hers trying his best to radiate some, but not too much warm. If he fucked up, she’d probably go into cardiac arrest from the harsh change in temperature. A moment passed and she was silent. Panicking he looked down and lightly shook her body.

“Tsai, tsai! You can’t fall asleep! You have to stay awake!” He said lightly shaking her body. She grumbled and let out a shuddering breath at the absence of his warmth. “I need you to touch me,” she whispered in a shuddering breath. He looked at her for a moment his eyes hard with an unreadable expression. With icy hands she reached for his warm ones and placed them on her sides underneath the cloak. She sat on his tight and greedily touched him needing more of his warmth. His hands roamed her sides, her arms and her upper and lower back, the light firebending in them making his large slender hands toasty, warm and inviting to touch. “I never thought this is how I would die,” she whispered dramatically against this skin. “You’re not going to die,” he said reassuringly gently back rubbing her body. Her body was ice cold to the touch.

She was already starting to feel better, the warmth returning to her body little by little, slowly as it should be. “Keep me warm. Please. I need you,” she quivered clinging to him desperately. Fisting the fabric of his coat opening it slightly to palm the bare warm skin of his chest. He saw that look in her eyes. They held in more than the wanting and need for his touch. There was another dark emotion reflected in her eyes. He warmed his breath, knowing that she’d be immune to the fire due to part of her nature which was made up of the Sun Spirit. The same part that made her be able to walk through flames and made her hair unnaturally red. Slowly he leaned in and placed a firey kiss on her neck. On that sensitive, tender spot just underneath her ear. The flames licking her body, sticking to her in a caressing warmth. His hands underneath the cloak sparkled lightly against her cool flesh with elicited flames. He continued kissing every exposed inch of her skin, each touch hotter, wetter, more ardent than the previous one. She stretched her neck to the side allowing him more room to paint in the canvas of her neck and with a deep exhale she let out a low moan. One that shook him to his core. He froze in the spot. Seeing as the two had never crossed that strongly marked line…

“I-I’m sorry,” she apologized and pulled back trembling slightly. She knew this wasn’t the sort of thing he was comfortable with and didn’t want to put him in that undesirable position. His eyes never left hers. “It’s okay,” he said reassuringly, his hands rounding around the back of her waist once again sitting her on his thigh. She looked at him with a tentative expression. After all this had been one of the reasons of their breakup. “It’s okay,” he repeated in a comforting tone. Maybe… Just maybe like he had said he was ready for the next step… He breathed out a tongue of fire and took in a deep breath before diving in and kissing the underside of her jaw. One of his hands held her face, the other held a rough grip on her hip. His fingers digging into her skin. She sighed and her eyes locked on him giving him almost a feverish look. She remained unmoved, instead he moved up and caught her lips in his.

After all this time, it really was the same as before, nothing had changed. The spark lingered. Both felt a familiar warmth spread through their bodies. Her heart jumped to her throat. He stroked her face and she parted her mouth slightly, his tongue softly tracing her bottom lip. Scratch that- maybe it was even better than last time. She unconsciously rolled her hips forward letting out a throaty groan, wanting to ease the demanding tickling that had formed in between her legs. She wanted him. Oh, she had wanted him for years. She could feel him turning hard against her leg. She continued grinding against him, forward and back in deeper rolling motions. His hands like his skin were hot, his breath against hers steaming in clouds of white as she pressed his body against his. He let out a deep groan against her skin before kissing it. God, how he’d missed her. How touch starved he’d been all this time. She reached for his hands and testing the waters raised them up slightly, they trailed her skin, sending shivers down her spine before she placed them on top of her breasts. He grasped them lightly, his hands melting what she felt were hard icicle that had formed on her chest. Patches of her skin now glowing with a rosy glow from his hot touch, the paleness and blue frost gradually waning. Her hair and body now safely dry.

She rubbed her wet core against the rough clothing of his leg riding him as if there were no tomorrow. She strained in her breathing struggling to hold the lewd sounds she was making inside of her throat.

He observed the flustered expression on his face and wanted more. He throbbed for more. Moving a steady hand to her hip he followed her movements, pressing him down harder against her. She rubbed harder and deeper. She was so greedy to please herself, so desperate for that release. Until she let out a small cry her head tilting back slightly, breathing heavily as she reached her release. The knot that had formed in the pits of her stomach fantastically becoming undone. She sighed content. Coming down from her high. Both of her arms were wrapped around his neck, she lowered them to his chest and looked at him with a post haze from her momentary high.

She kissed him hard, harden than she ever had. Leaving absolutely no space between them. If she pressed herself to him any harder the two might’ve morphed into one. Both having forgotten they were in cave, that an assassin had just tried to kill them, that she had almost gone into hypothermic shock. “You’re shaking,” he said with a small smile stroking the inside of her arm.

She let out a little laugh. “Yes, but I’m not that cold anymore.”

He kissed her face while she spoke and again held her tightly against his body.

“I miss you.”

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mycomfortblanket · 3 years

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This is for @i-love-your-light for the ATLA Winter Fest 2020 gift exchange! I hope you enjoy it and I hope you had a great holiday and that 2021 will treat you better in every way.

Aang is helping Zuko carry the hot chocolate into the living room where the rest of the gaang is lounging around. Aang hands Toph her cup before climbing onto the couch and snuggling under the covers with Katara.

Zuko gently steps over Toph to Sokka and hands him his cup before sitting on the opposite side of the couch. Sokka is spread out over the couch so he is not left with much room on the couch.

Katara is just about to press play when Zuko speaks up, “Where are the rest of the blankets?”

“Uh, I think we’re using them all,” Aang says with a shrug.

“It’s snowing outside and you don’t have enough blankets for all of us?”

“Well, to be fair, I’m laying down on one,” Toph points down at the blanket she is sprawled across.

“Just share with Sokka, it’s big enough for the both of you,” Katara says, hiding a grin behind her mug.

Zuko blushes furiously and ducks his head hoping its not seen by anyone. He awkwardly yanks at the edge of the blanket and successfully pulls it halfway off of Sokka.

Sokka lets out a dramatic sigh before sitting up right, “Urgh, you suck. Here, spread the blanket like this so we both have some. I don’t want to freeze my ass off either.”

He moves to sit directly next to Zuko, their thighs and shoulders touching. Sokka spreads the blanket over both of them and the burrows inside the blanket as if he were a cat. They are touching shoulder to shoulder and Sokka’s legs are folded on the couch with them so his leg is partially resting on Zuko’s thigh.

He doesn’t say anything, just presses his lips together and looks down at the cup of hot chocolate in his hands. The sensation of Sokka pressed against him like this feels like it was on fire. Every Time either of them would shift, the fire would intensify before dying back down to a warm presence.

Katara glances around the room and decides they are as ready as they are ever going to be and starts the movie.

Zuko hardly pays attention to the movie because of how his skin is pressed up against Sokka’s. Every few moments, he would steal a glance at him and conclude that Sokka is nowhere as affected by the physical contact as he is. Sokka was steadily drinking his hot chocolate and laughing and smiling at all the right parts in the movie. If he knew that Zuko is staring at him, he gives no indication.

At one point he leans over, pressing more against Zuko’s arm, “This is the best part!” Sokka’s breath brushes across his neck, making goosebumps appear and the hair that is hanging down around his face move slightly and tickle his cheek.

Zuko swallows hard and nods his head in acknowledgement. He can hardly focus on anything other than Sokka being so close to him. It’s hard to keep his feelings in check when the younger boy is pressed up against him, breathing excitedly and bouncing on the couch slightly.

He isn’t entirely sure when this all started, but he knows his feelings are growing fast and there’s nothing he can do to stop it. He was sure that Sokka knew how he felt about him or at least had the suspension; he was just grateful Sokka hadn’t mentioned it to him.

Slowly, as the movie nears its end, Sokka leans more and more into him before completely resting his weight against him. His head dropping onto his shoulder and little puffs of air tickling Zuko’s cheek. He takes a quick look around the room and finds that the only person still awake is Aang, but just barely.

The movie finally comes to an end and the title screen is on for about 5 minutes before the screensaver comes on and shows the generic photos of the Firestick.

Zuko turns his head and attempts to get a look at Sokka but can only see the top of his head. Attempting to slip out from underneath his weight, Zuko places a hand on Sokka’s side and slowly eases him down to lay on the couch long ways. He picks up his feet and moves them so they are up on the couch with him, having him spread out across the couch, taking up most of the room.

He looks around the living room for a place for himself. Kartara and Aang are taking up the other couch and Sokka leaves no room on this couch so he just decides he can move Toph over slightly and lay down on the floor with her. Just as he is about to step over the small girl, a hand grabs his, making him jump slightly.

He turns back towards the couch and sees Sokka looking up at him, his eyes just barely open, obviously still half asleep.

“No, stay,” he coaks out, his voice just barely audible.

“What?”

“Stay.” It wasn’t a question or a suggestion. Sokka pulls on Zuko's wrist weakly.

Still slightly confused, he watches as Sokka moves so his back is against the couch leaving enough room in front of him for Zuko to lay down on.

Slowly, he moves towards the couch and lays down in front of Sokka who immediately wraps an arm around his middle and buries his face into the back of Zuko’s neck. This was definitely new.

He lays there tense for a few moments, his head cushioned by Sokka’s other arm that is stretched out in front of him. His smell of evergreens is enveloping Zuko the longer he lays there and he knows it’s a scentl that he wants to smell forever.

Slowly, he falls asleep with Sokka pressed against his back keeping him warm throughout the night.

----------

Sokka opens his eyes, the sun streaming in through the cracks in the blinds and immediately closes them again. He can smell breakfast being cooked in the other room, but until that is ready, he’s not getting up.

He stretches his arms and legs out like a cat and groans when his back pops. Only when he attempts to arch his back to pop it some more does he realize that someone was asleep next to him. Like directly in front of him.

Sokka opens his eyes again and see’s Zuko with his face buried in his chest, one of his arms slung across Sokka’s waist. Their legs are twisted together so he’s not entirely sure where his legs begin and where they stop.

He just barely remembers reaching out to grab Zuko’s hand last night. Tired Sokka has a lot more confidence than normal Sokka apparently. No way would he have ever done something like that even if Zuko threw hints or signals at him. No matter how much his heart would flutter when their hands brushed against each other, he wouldn’t actively put himself out there in fear of getting rejected.

Zuko has never shown any affirmation of being attracted to guys or even thinking about him in that way, so it was just best to keep his feelings to himself.

His scar is mostly all he can see from this position, the way it curves at the bottom of his cheekbone and hides behind his hairline. His hair, sleek and black, shines with the light from the morning sun.

Swallowing hard, Sokka reaches up a hand and moves some hair behind his ear so he can look closer at him. Being this close to him, he can smell the shampoo he must have used yesterday. He smells of cinnamon and something a little smoky. It suits him well and can’t help but lean in a little closer to get a better smell.

“Did you just sniff my hair?” Zuko mumbles out against his chest. His voice is thick with sleep and is slightly muffled against his chest.

“Uh… no? Is that weird?” he asks, trying to keep his cool.

“It’s only weird if you make it weird,” Toph interjects from the floor.

“Guys! Breakfast is ready!” Katara calls from the kitchen.

Zuko rolls onto his back, letting go of Sokka. He tries, he really does, to not watch the way Zuko moves his arm out to the side and stretches and moans as his back pops.

Slowly, he turns away from Sokka and sits up on the couch and glances at him for just a moment before standing and making his way into the kitchen, careful not to trip over Toph.

“Could you guys be any more obvious?” Toph asks, her face still buried in the pillow.

“Huh?” Sokka asks.

“You guys have been tiptoeing around each other for the past few months now. Just make a move before I make one for you,” she stands and trudges to the kitchen, her hair sticking out every which way from sleep.

----------

After breakfast, Zuko and Sokka decide to walk home together since their buildings are next door to each other. As they trudge through the freshly fallen snow, they don’t say anything to each other, but rather keep their hands stuffed deep in their pockets.

Breakfast was as awkward as it could be with Toph’s vaguely hidden remarks and Aang’s silent laughter. Both of their cheeks were stained red with embarrassment and they kept their eyes trained on their plates, only commenting when necessary.

Sokka risks a glance over at him and can’t help but smile at how adorable he is. His nose and cheeks are red from the cold and his hair is blowing in just the right way that he is able to see the profile of his face. He has what looks to be a frown and his eyebrows scrunched together.

Feeling his gaze on his face, Zuko looks up and catches Sokka’s eye, “What?”.

He just shakes his head and looks back down at the ground as they continue walking. Just as they reach the place where Sokka usually splits off to his building, Zuko shoots out a hand and grabs his elbow, pulling him to a stop.

“I’m sorry about last night,” he says, his golden eyes boring into his blue.

Sokka’s brow furrows in confusion, not entirely sure what he meant.

“I shouldn’t have slept on the couch with you like that. I understand why you’re upset, especially since everyone commented on it at breakfast.”

“What? I’m not upset about sleeping on the couch with you, I thought you were upset cause I grabbed you last night and told you to sleep with me. I know you don’t like men like that so I imagine it was really awkward for you,” Sokka says sheepishly, rubbing his hand over the back of his neck not wanting to make eye contact.

“I like men,” Zuko mutters staring straight at Sokka.

He immediately glances up and looks at Zuko for any sign that he is making fun of him or lying. But his eyes are open and honest, and he can see nothing but the truth.

He watches Zuko mentally gear up for something before he steps closer to him, into his personal space. He is just a little shorter than Sokka, but his bold action makes him seem larger. Zuko’s eyes seem to flit down and rest on his lips for a fraction of a second before moving back up.

“I want to try something. Close your eyes,”Zuko murmurs.

Sokka only hesitates for a moment before his eyelids flutter shut and he takes a deep breath.

Zuko stares at his lips and before tentatively setting a hand on his shoulder and the other on his bicep, before tilting his head up to kiss him.

Sokka’s eyes shoot open in surprise but immediately closes them again and snakes an arm around Zuko’s waist and cupping his cheek.

They both hear a door open and a cough that is meant to get their attention, but they both ignore it so they can keep their lips pressed together, tilting their heads slightly to deepen the kiss.

When they pull apart, gold eyes stare into blue before bashful smiles appear on both of their faces and Zuko steps back slightly.

“Could you two hurry? It’s cold out here,” Azula yells at them from the front steps of the building

“I’ll call you later, okay?” Sokka says in a low voice before placing one last kiss on his lips and turning towards his sister, “Always a pleasure, Azula,” he gives a mock salute and turns to walk towards his apartment building.

Zuko stands in the same spot as he watches Sokka get to his building, who turns to look at him, and lifts a hand to say bye before stepping into the building's foyer.

He turns and walks towards his own apartment building and sees Azula still standing in the doorway, her arms crossed and a sly smirk on her face, “I wish you could see your face right now,” she says in greeting.

“What? Why?” Zuko asks, slightly confused.

Her smile softens just the slightest before she says, “Because you’re smiling like a damn fool,” she shakes her head and claps him on the shoulder, “Come on. Mom is here and making cookies."

#atla winter fest 2020 #atla #winter fest 2020 #fluff #zukka #very small amount of Kataang if you squint super hard #I don't ship Kataang at all but whatever #avatar the last airbender #Zuko #Sokka #aang #Katara #Toph #azula #I love you like it!

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